


_?«_ 






^^ALBUM^irx- 



-OF 




HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY .: 






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---^-^^^=rrF^^p^=r-7=^^=r 



OF- 






Meeker County, Minnesota, 

Containing Sketches of the Cities, Villages and Townships, Educa- 
tional, CiYil, Military and Political History ; Portraits of 
Prominent Citizens and Biographies of Old Settlers and 
Representative Hen, together with a Full History 
of Meeker County's Experience During the 
Famous Indian Massacre of 1862. 



History of Minnesota, 

Embracing an Account of Early Explorations, Organization, a 

RcYiew of the Political History and a Concise 

History of the Indian Outbreak. 



Presidents of the United States, 

Embracing Biographical Sketches and Full Page Portraits of Each. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



CH IC A GO : 

Alden Ogle & Company, 
18S8 . 




ul- 



f.: 



■.^^4 



\- ^ 



I; 5 '^i 



'Biography is the Only True History." — Emerson. 



CHICAGO: 
DONOHUE & HENNEBERRY, 

Printers and Binders, 
1888. 



PEEFACE. 




^^^1^ N the compilation of this volume, it has been the aim of the publishers to prepare a 
ife'fi local encyclopedia dealing with the history and biography of the people of Meeker 
■ ' >^- county, of the past and present, comprising in a single volume of convenient form 
a varied fund of information, not only of interest to the present, but for preservation 
for coming generations, from which future searchers for historic data may draw, 
without the tedium incurred in the preparation of this. We have gathered together 
a vast mass of historic facts, and present them with individual sketches of hundreds 
of those who have been identified with the development of the various localities. That our work 
is wholly without error, or that nothing of interest has been omitted, is more than we dare to 
hope, and is more than any reasonable or intelligent reader will expect, but we have spared neither 
pains nor expense in our efforts to have the work as nearly perfect as it is possible for .such a work 
to be made. The manuscript of the historical portions was carefully submitted to committees of 
prominent old settlers, who were requested to make all changes or additions necessary for a com- 
plete and correct work. The certificates of these gentlemen will be found on page iv. As to 
the biographical department, equal care was bestowed. The biographical sketches, in every case, 
were submitted to those whom they concerned, so that all had an opportunity to correct and revise 
the statements and data before it was sent to press. 
Inclosing our labors, we have the gratifying consciousness of having used our utmcst endeavors in 
securing reliable data, and feel no hesitancy in submitting the result to an intelligent public, feeling justi- 
fied in believing that the work will compare favorably with any local historical work ever published in the 
State. 

There is always more or less ditliculty, in an historical work, in selecting those things which will 
interest the greatest number of readers. Individual tastes differ so widely, that that which may be of 
absorbing interest to one has no attractions for another. Some are interested only in that which concerns 
themselves, and do not care to read of even the most thrilling adventures in which they were not partici- 
pants. Such persons are apt to conclude that what they are not interested in is of no value, and its pre- 
servation in history a useless expense. In this, they are in error, as the most trivial reminiscence becomes 
more and more important, as years roll by, and the preservation of the names of the pioneer partici- 
pants is regarded with a just pride by their descendants. In the .settlement of any new township or county, 
no one person is entitled to all the credit for what has been accomplished, but every individual is a part of 
the great whole, and all are directly or indirectly connected with each step of progress. For this reason, 
it is always a very difficult — if not impo.ssible — task to measure and express the exact meed of praise or 
commendation due to the individual, and we have, therefore, stated facts, with "naught set down in 
malice or in praise." 

In conclusion, we desire to express our sincere thanks to the citizens generally, the pioneers, the press, 
and the county, township and village officials, who have extended more than ordinary courtesy to our 
employes in their arduous duties of obtaining data. 

That our efforts may prove satisfactory, and this volume receive a welcome commensurate with the 
care bestowed upon its preparation, is the earnest desire of the compilers. 

ALDEN PUBLISHING COMPANY. 







f liRTIFICATHS OF C OMMITTHItS. 



5^ / 




^-^ I 



^ '^->>-^'^^f^>^'^;^^=^:^^^i^^^V5^ 



^^^V 



Certificate of I^eVi^ion and dowection of the Indian IVja^^ad'e and (general dhaptef^. 



W 



'E. ihe undersigned, members of the committee appointed to revise and correct the chapter relating to the 
Indian massacre, and also the general historical chapters of the History of Meeker County, compiled and 
published by Alden, Ogle & Co., do hereby certify that the manuscript was duly submitted to us, and fur- 
ther, that we revised and corrected the same, making all the changes and additions we deemed necessary; and, as 
corrected, we hereby approve of the same as being correct and complete, to the best of our judgment and recollec- 
tion. ' [Signed,] Hamlet Stevens. 

J. B. Atkinson, 
A. Nelson, 

J. B. S.'VLISBURY, 

M. J. Flvnn. 



dertificate of the I^eVi^ion and dowection of diti] and ToWn^hip Hi^torij. 



WE, the undersigned, members of the various committees selected to revise and correct the history of our 
respective township or city for the History of Meeker County, do hereby certify, that the manuscript relating 
to our respective township or village was duly submitted to us, and further, that we revised and corrected 
the same, making all the changes and additions we deemed necessary; and, as corrected, we hereby approve of the 
same as being complete and correct, to the best of our judgment and recollection. 



[Signed,] J. B. Atkinson, . 

J. B. S.VLISliURV, 
W. D. JOUUERT, 
M. J. Flynn, 
Chas. H Strobeck, 
Peter Johnson, 
John Rudberg, 
N. E. Hanson, 
Nils Elokson, 
J. Blomberg, 
C. C. Reitan, 
A. P. Nelson, 
R. D. Griniiall, 



J. M. Pit.man, 
Daniel Jackman, 
C. A. Oilman. 
Patrick Casey, 
J. S. Shields, 
Andrew Davidson, 
L. L. Wakefield, 
G. W. Harding, 
N. C. Caswell, 
James Lang, 
O. H. Campbell, 
Ole Kittei.son, 
Daniel Danielson, 



SoREN Morton, 

John A. Sa.mpson, 

E. Evenson, 

Harrison Fuller, 

W. H. Greenleae (Ellsworth), 

C. E. CUTTS, 

m. muri'iiy, 
Orrin Whitney, 
James A. Kline, 
Thomas Rvckman, 
Jer. Leaminc, 
Ed. H. Muri'hv. 




— • • '^-^sj— *«- 



CONTENTS. 



>•♦•»♦♦♦♦— 

I 






'"^S^o^^^ ^^S).^^e^^^ 






Presidents of the United States. 



Greorge Washington 9 

John Adams 14 

Thomas Jefferson 20 

James Madison 3li 

James Jlouioe 33 

John Quincy Adams 38 

Andrew Jackson. 47 

Martin Van Biiren 53 

Wm. Henry Harrison 56 

John Tvier fi4 

James K. Polli 64 



PAGE. 

Zachary Taylor 68 

Millard Fillmore 73 

Franklin Pierce 76 

James Buchanan 80 

Abraham Lincoln 84 

Andrew Jobn.son 93 

U.S. Grant 96 

Rutherford B. Hayes 103 

James A. Garfield 109 

Chester A, Arthur 113 

Grover Cleveland 117 



History of Minnesota. 



CHAPTER I. 

Location, Topography, &c 123 

Location 123 

Resources 133 

Topography 133 

Railroads 134 

Popul itiou Statistics 124 

CHAPTER n. 

HiSTOUY FROM 1660 TO 1888 125 

Early E.x'plorations 135 

During the Seventeenth Century 126 

During the Eighteenth Century . . 138 

During the Nineteenth Century 129 

Organization as a Territory 131 

Organization as a State 131 

Chronological Events 131 



CHAPTER in. 

TiTE Indian Massacue 133 

Indian Tril)es 133 

^Bloodshed 1.3.5 

Battles 138 

Surren<ier of Indians 138 

Execution of Thirty-eight Indians 139 

CHAPTER IV. 

Territorial and State Officers 140 

CHAPTER V. 

Representation in Congress and Creation of 

Counties 143 

Senators 143 

Representatives ' 143 

Creation of Counties 144 



History of Meeker County, Minnesota. 



CHAPTER I. 
Location and Topography 



CHAPTER II. 



Early Settlement 

CHAPTER III. 
Official ^Matters 



499 



500 



509 



CHAPTER IV. 

Political 519 

Olficial Vote, 1857-188G 519 

CHAPTER V. 
Journalism and Education 527 

CHAPTER VI. 
Meeker County During the SIassacre 531 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

PACE. 

Forest City Townshii- IJ^O 

Forest City Village SSI 

CIIAPTEK IX. 

Man ANN All Township 553 

Manannah Village 555 

Eden Valley Village 550 

CIIAPTEK X. 

Kingston Township 556 

Kingston Village 557 

CHAPTER XI. 

Cedau ;Mii.i-s Township 558 

CHAPTER XII. 

SwicDE GiiovE Township •. 560 

CHAPTEII XIII. 

Darsel TowNSiiii' 561 

Dassel Village 50a 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Daiiwin Township 567 

Darwin Village 508 

CHAPTER XV. 
Hauvey Township 568 



CHAPTER XVI. 

PAGE. 

Daniei.son Township 569 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Litchfield Township 570 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
Cosmos Township 572 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Union Grove Township 573 

CHAPTER XX. 

FOEEST PliAIKIE ToWNSHIP 574 

CHAPTER XXI. 

A( ton Township 575 

Grove City Village 576 

CHAPTER XXII. 

Greicnt.eaf Township 578 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

Coi.i.iNwooD Township 579 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Ellsworth Township 581 

Greenleaf Village 583 

CHAPTER XXV. 
History of Litchfield 584 



V 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



page. 

Adams, Frederick 375 

Ahlstrom, Clias. M.. 317 

Akes.son, Hans M 329 

Akcson, Nels 195 

Amundson, Ole 230 

Ames, Harlow 429 

Ames, Harlow F 439 

Ames, Henry 401 

Anderson, Israel J 252 

Anderson, Andrew J 359 

Anilerson, David 361 

Andersen, Ilalsten 399 

Angier, H. M 378 

Ansiell, C. L 379 

Armstrong, P. F 310 

Atkinson, J. B 156 

Atkinson. C. H 383 

Barrick, Ximrod 183 

Baden, Christian 325 

Bauer, Nick 406 

I5en.son, E. B. 330 

Berggren, Peter 326 

I5ercgren, Nels () 230 

Berg, J. P 282 

Becker, George 248 

Beckstrand, CM 281 

Belknap, Geo. S 305 

Benton, .lolin W 309 

Belfoy, :\Irs. Mary 307 

Bclfoy, Frank 308 

Bergcjuist. Gustof 368 

F.issell, Dr. F. E 2.56 

Birch, .lolin 342 

Bigelow, Clias. II 429 

Bjorhus, Ole K 476 

Bjorhus, Andrew 476 



PAGE. 

Blomberg, John 203 

Blackwell, John 308 

Bogar, T. H 200 

Bogar, Moses II 379 

Boyer, Marion 389 

Boring, Eli 816 

Boyntoo, Henry J 333 

Boweu, Mrs. Martha 436 

Brown, Lansing V 197 

Brown, Peter K 313 

Briggs, E. A 480 

Brown, Mons A 451 

Branhani, Jesse V., Sr 466 

Branham, Jesse V., Jr 491 

Branham, H . S, 455 

Brower, Adam 375 

Burns ISrothers 483 

Buttcrfield, Chas. W 335 

Bylund, Erick 389 

Caswell, N. C 444 

Caswell, A. M 316 

Caswell. Silas H 450 

Ca.sey, Patrick 280 

Carlson, Andrew 307 

Carl.son, Elias 298 

Carlson, Swan 484 

Cairncross, Alex 370 

Case, R, F 398 

Came}', John 341 

Campbell, (). II 418 

Campbell, Ibm. W. M 485 

(Jates, Mark 440 

Case, Roy M 383 

Chriatenson, J. (Union Grove). 162 
Christenseu, John (Grove City) 423 
Chapman, Geo. H " . 306 



PAGE. 

Chapman, Dr. Will E 353 

Chevre, Frank J 359 

Chaney, Wui. P 483 

Clements, Nels 195 

Clay, Henry 360 

Clark, Geo. W 419 

Coombs, Vincent 189 

Comstock, Ezra B 200 

Cossairt, Samuel 309 

Cox, William S 353 

Connole, Peter J 277 

Coleman, A. W' 473 

Cross, Daniel A 200 

Crowe, Luke 1) 379 

Cutts, Hon. C. E 800 

Daggett, F. E. 109 

Danielsou, Daniel 170 

Danielson, Henrv E 392 

Danielson, Nels.". 287 

Danielson, D. N 301 

Davidson, Andrew 180 

David.son, Angust 305 

Davis, James P 313 

Damulh, Robt. N a71 

Dart, Chas. H 331 

Delaney, Michael 155 

Dearey, James 305 

DeCoster, F. V 330 

Delong, Madison 347 

Delong. Alliert II 350 

Dcck,"Phillii. 352 

Deck, Franklin 355 

Der.sch, Otto 407 

Dime, John E 210 

Dickson, George 389 

Dowling, Hugh 186 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Dorman, S. A 460 

Dorman, A. T 390 

Doyle, Kichard 469 

Draxton, Nels A 466 

Dunn, Timotliy 328 

Duckering, Jolm 241 

Duckering, Chas. H 358 

Eckstrom, P 480 

Eblers, Theo 461 

Ekbom, Nels _ 351 

Ekbom, Louis '. 479 

Eklund, Andrew W 361 

Eklund, Eric P 349 

Ekmau, Nels 470 

Elofson, Nels 237 

Elofsoii, Andrew. . . 377 

Elofson, Peter 397 

Elmquist, D 375 

Elliott, Richard 376 

Enright, Patrick 387 

Erickson, August 471 

Esbjornsson, John 235 

Evenson, Hans 221 

Evenson, Hon. E 158 

Evenson, .John F 232 

Evenson, Andrew 312 

Falk, .JohnP 286 

Pinnegan, Michael .... y56 

Flynn, John 225 

Flynn, Hon. M. J 337 

Flynn, Daniel 339 

Fosen, Amos N 199 

Fourre, Richard 480 

FLdler, G. W 288 

Puller, Harrison 335 

Gardner, Mrs. Elizabeth 162 

Gardner, Peter 163 

Gibney.John 246 

Gibney, Timothy 398 

Oilman, Chas. A 391 

Gorman, David 291 

Gordon, A. L 316 

Gorton, Milton 841 

Greenleaf, Hon "W. H 149 

Greenleaf , Chas. A 261 

Greenwood, Marcellus 262 

Grant, James 285 

Grindall, Ralph D 380 

Grindall, E. L 443 

Grindall, Hiram 442 

Grono, Wm 388 

Grotte, Peter 401 

Gunderson, Andrew 318 

Gumaclius, CM 442 

Harding, G. W 168 

Hanson, James N 225 

Han.son, Peter N 246 

Hanson, Christian L 407 

Hansen Peter E 409 

Han.son, N. C. G 362 

Hanson, Bengt 453 

Hanson, C. J. G 378 

llalvorsen. Christian 396 

Halversen, H. 388 

Hallgren, John 297 

Hamilton, William 301 



PAGE. 

Harris, Virgil H 34S 

HawkinsonTN. W 357 

Hawkinson, O. W 430 

Hawkins, Buel J 399 

Hershey, R. S 233 

Heard, Samuel A 381 

Ilines, Harry H 357 

Hill, F. R 399 

Hill, John 391 

Houk, Jlartin 161 

Hoar, David B 180 

Hoar, Adelbert B 198 

Howard, Col. J. M 306 

Hukriede, William 159 

Hukriede, Henry ■ 160 

Hunter, John 186 

Hull, Caleb 193 

Hubbard, Joseph 273 

Hurley, John 335 

Hutchins, Albert 433 

Inman, Jacob C • 308 

Iverson, Hans 183 

Jackman, Daniel 371 

Jewett, Co!. T. C 308 

John.son, Svenning 168 

John.sou, Nels F 179 

Johnson, L. M 188 

Johnson, Peter (Acton) 203 

Johnson, Peter (Da.ssel) 237 

Johnson, A. C 316 

JoluLsou, John I\I 387 

Johnson, Alfred J 338 

Johnson, Taylor 361 

Johnson, John W 433 

Jolmson, John 43.5 

Johnson, Ola ,r 439 

Johnson, Nels 464 

Johnson, C. G 490 

Johns, William H 199 

Jorgenson, Olof B 380 

Joubert, W. D 166 

Jordeu, August 307 

Kastett, Ole Nielson 395 

Kauffman, Dr. J. H 309 

Kennedy, Dr. V. P 165 

Keilty, Peter 339 

Kimball, E 355 

Kittelson, Harold 443 

Kittle.son, Ole 377 

Kline, James A 247 

Knights, John 475 

Knight, John W 373 

Koerner, August T 308 

Kon,sbrick, John 392 

Kruger, John C 268 

Lang, James 423 

Laughton, Chas. A 178 

Larson, Lewis 313 

Larson, Nels 450 

Larson, Ole 475 

Larson, Peter E 476 

Larson, Andrew 336 

Larson, John E 343 

Lawson, A. 370 

Lawton, James 378 

Lasher, H. J 242 



PAGE. 

Leighton, Luther W 318 

Lenhard, Jacob 178 

Lenhardt, M. F 329 

Lee, Andrew 299 

Leavitt, S. W 421 

Leamiug, Jer 433 

Lindgren, John 198 

Lindgren, S. 303 

Lindell.Ole N 355 

Linuell, Hon. O. M 382 

Lovett, Michael 346 

Lovett, James 346 

Lund, Peter (Greenleaf) 331 

Lund, Peter J. (Acton) 370 

Martin, N. C 153 

Martin, Henry 185 

Martin, John 350 

Martenson, Peter 155 

Martenson, Louis 371 

Marten.son, Nils 387 

Mattson, Andrew S 158 

Mattson .John 445 

Mayer, Simon 161 

Maynard, George 365 

Manguson, Chas 309 

March, N. J 340 

Malmqui-st, PeterJ 392 

Maass, Adolph 366 

McCaruey, James 205 

McCue, James 338 

McCusker, Fergus 474 

JlcCann, Henrv 369 

McCaffrey, Patrick 463 

Mclntyre, Frank 268 

Mclntyre, Peter, 479 

Mclntee, John 331 

McKarney, Patrick 326 

McKennev. James H . 378 

McAloon," Charles 339 

McGraw, Cornelius 363 

McDevitt. Rev. H 371 

McLaue, Daniel 370 

McLauffhliu, Frank 464 

MerrilCN. D 191 

Minton, Frank W 326 

Miller, William H 257 

Miller, Israel 446 

Mitchell, David 406 

Jlitchell, Peter J ; 446 

Jlouslcy, John M 153 

Morris, James H 258 

Morton, Soren 489 

JIurray, John 390 

Murphv, William 328 

Murphy, Edward II 434 

Murphy, Michael 439 

Nelson, Hon. Andrew 171 

Nelson, Carl 166 

Nelson, Rasmus 181 

Nelson, Andrew J 318 

Nelson, B. P 366 

Nelson, Ole 319 

Nelson, Erick AV 335 

Nelson, Frank 340 

Nelson, Ola 345 

Nelson. N, L 347 

Nelson, Soren 431 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAOE. 

Nelson, Nicholas 473 

Nelson, James 489 

Nelson, Arnlrow P 397 

Neuliauer, (Jeorge 390 

Ness, OIo H 187 

Ness, Ilalver 456 

Ness, Martin O. 461 

Ness, Vax\ 460 

Norgien, John 493 

Noi'sreu & Co 493 

Nygren, J. P 291 

Ogren, John 36G 

Olson, Johannes 160 

Olson, John 346 

Olson, L. M 463 

Olson, Peter 483 

Ornbcrg, Peter P 449 

Osterhind, Lewis 349 

O'Keeffe, Menus 259 

Paulson, Geo 358 

Paulson, JIartin J 454 

Paulson, Paul M 307 

Paulson, John 207 

Palm, John 207 

Patterson, James 405 

Peterson, E. P 190 

Peterson, H. 1 257 

Peterson, Frank T 220 

Peterson, Hans 409 

Peterson, John 336 

Peterson, Olaf 452 

Peterson, Peter R 481 

Peterson, Peter (Acton) 376 

Pennoyer, J. I? 218 

Pitman, J. M 302 

Pier, Lewis A . . 295 

Pluraadore, Joseph 386 

Polk. James W 310 

Price, Thos. F 190 

Pratt. Sophia 229 

Proctor, Edwin F 417 

Printy, Owen 471 

Quick, John A 235 

Quigley, J.ames 397 

Quinlan, John 451 



PAGE. 

Rails, Luke 367 

Ralston, Robert B 327 

Ralston, John 376 

Rcmick, John II 322 

Reilan, f.0 238 

Renos, Ole J 369 

Ringstrora, Peter D 355 

Roman, Leonard 177 

Ross, A. I) 317 

Roach, William 345 

Roach, Jlichacl J 400 

Rodanj;e, John 441 

Rodgers, Alfred 452 

Rowley, Henry C 473 

Russell, J. M 179 

Rimisey, H. V 332 

Rudberg, Jonas 440 

Rudberg, Hon. L 376 

Rudberg, John 400 

Ryckman, Thomas 292 

Sallberg, August 408 

Salisbury, Hon. J. B 311 

Sangreen, Peter 167 

Sampson, John 176 

Sampson, John A 167 

Scarp, J. P 248 

Scarp, Swan A 247 

Schultz. Carl 262 

Schwarz. Kudoli.h 300 

Segar, William H 269 

Shelley, James 151 

Sherman, Job B 187 

Shields, Hon. J. S 196 

Shepherd, David 277 

Shepherd. Charles 315 

Shimin. James H '"80 

Smith, John 318 

Smith, Daniel F 320 

Smith, Charles 351 

Smith, A. C 493 

Snell, John 201 

Soule, T. J 296 

Sorenson, Lars P 380 

Spath, Frederick 420 

Spaulding, Charles F 462 

Strobeck, fUiarles H 211 

Strobeck, Geo. B 465 



PAOK. 

Stevens, Hamlet 443 

Staples. Charles A 170 

Sund(|uist. John .1 265 

Sundahl,Gundrr H 191 

Sullivan. Andrew 387 

Swansou, Fred 198 

Swanson, August 367 

Taylor, Norris Y 150 

Teberg, John 295 

Thoms, James H 319 

Thorp, Bersvend S 340 

Topping, Orcn W 468 

Torrey , John \V 473 

Turner, Nelson 286 

Twombly , Frank J 465 

Viren, N. A 197 

Vincent, Samuel C 402 

Vose, Orrin B 231 

Vossen, Joseph 290 

Vogcl, John 455 

Von Eckstaedt, Albert V :M6 

Wakefield, L. L 239 

Wakefield, Joseph L 453 

Wall, Ambrose 422 

Waller, Hon. G. B 434 

Waller, Geo. B., Jr 434 

Wanvig, D. M 459 

Waylander, Ncls 483 

Weeks, Dr. E. B 481 

Welch, Richard 398 

Wheeler, R. A 315 

Wheeler, Isaac 218 

Wheeler, Frank E 319 

Whitney, Orrin 412 

Whittiugton, W.J 470 

Whalen, John 389 

Wis,-, John 469 

Williams, Henry R 405 

Wilcox, William H 396 

Wood, Miller C .. 4.54 

Wood, LoxlcyR 485 

Wright, Jasper 460 

Youngstrom, John 169 

Zaekrison, John E 285 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



PORTRAITS. 



' Adams, John 15 

/ Adams, John Quiucy 39 

/ Arthur, Chester A 113 

^ Becker, George 253 

■ Belknap, George S 303 

' Buchanan, James 81 

' Cleveland, Grovcr 116 

' Evcnson, E 163 

' Fillmore, Millard 73 

• Flynn, M. J 213 

' Garfield, James A 108 

I Grant, U. S 97 

1 Greenleaf. William H 153 

'Grindall, Ralph D 373 

/ Hansen, Peter E 467 



• Harrison, AVilliam II 57 

( Hayes, Rutherford I! 103 

'Hubbard. Joseph 273 

' Jackson, Andrew 46 

' Jefferson, Thomas 21 

' John-son, .Vndrew 93 

I Johnson, Peter 333 

(Lasher, H. J 343 

'Lang, Jaru-s 435 

■ Lang, Mis. James 426 

•^ Leaminir, Jcr 403 

•Linnell (). M 383 

'Lincoln, Aliraliam 85 

'"Madison, James 37 

' Monroe, James 33 

' Morris, James H 363 

^NeLsou, Andrew 173 



Pennoyer, J. B 203 

' Pierce", Franklin 77 

Polk , James K 65 

Tlodange, John 437 

( Sampson, John A 183 

Shields, John S 193 

■Taylor, Zaehariah 69 

'Tyler, John 61 

Van Bmen, Martin 53 

'Washington, George 8 

'Whitney, Orrin 414 

'Whitney, Mrs. Rebecca C 415 

•Wilcox,' AVilliam H 393 

VIEWS. 
Peter E. Hansen's residence... 515 
Andrew Nelson's residence 525 



GEORGE WASHfXCrTON. 






•4-»_^__5j- 



.4-_^_./>«?^^ 









EORGE WASHING- 
TON, the "Father of 
his Country" and its 
first President, 1789- 
'97, was born Febru- 
ary 22, 1732, in Wash- 
ington Parish, West- 
"^^iM^C^ moreland Count y, Virginia. 
His father, Augustine Wash- 
ington, first married Jane But- 
ler, who bore him four chil- 
dren, and March 6, 1730, he 
married Mary Ball. Of six 
children by his second mar- 
riage, George .was the eldest, 
the others being Bettv, Samuel, John, Au- 
gustine, Charles and Mildred, of whom the 
youngest died in infancy. Little is known 
of the early years of Washington, beyond 
the fact that the house in which he was 
born was burned during his early child- 
hood, and that his father thereupon moyed 
to another farm, inherited from his paternal 
ancestors, situated in Stafford Count}-, on 
the north bank of the Rappahannock, where 
he acted as agent of the Principio Iron 
Works in the immediate vicinity, and died 
there in 1743. 

From earliest childhood George devel- 
oped a noble character. He had a vigorous 
constitution, a fine form, and great bodily 
Strength. His education was somewhat de- 



fective, being confined to the elementary 
branches taught him by his mother and at 
a neighboring school. He developed, how- 
ever, a fondness for mathematics, and en- 
joyed in that branch the instructions of a 
private teacher. On leaving school he re- 
sided for some time at Mount Vernon with 
his half brother, Lawrence, who acted as 
his guardian, and who had married a daugh- 
ter of his neighbor at Belvoir on the Poto- 
mac, the wealthy William Fairfax, for some 
time president of the executive council of 
the colony. Both Fairfax and his son-in-law, 
Lawrence Washington, had served with dis- 
tinction in 1 740 as officers of an American ' 
battalion at the siege of Carthagena, and 
were friends and correspondents of Admiral 
Vernon, for whom the latter's residence on 
the Potomac has been named. George's ■ 
inclinations were for a similar career, and a 
midshipman's warrant was procured for 
him, probably through the influence of the 
Admiral ; but through the opposition of his 
mother the project was abandoned. The 
family connection with the Fairfaxes, how- 
ever, opened another career for the young 
man, who, at the age of sixteen, was ap- 
pointed surveyor. to the immense estates of 
the eccentric Lord Fairfax, who was then 
on a visit at Belvoir, and who shortly aftei^- 
ward established his baronial residence at 
Greenway Court, in the Shenandoah Valley. 



PRES/DhXTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



Three years were passed bv 3'(ning Wash- 
iiii^ton in a rough frontier Hfe, gaining ex- 
perience which afterward proved very es- 
sential to iiim. 

In 1 75 1, when the Virginia mihtia were 
put under training with a view to active 
service against France, Washington, though 
only nineteen years of age, was appointed 
Adjutant with the rank of Major. In Sep- 
tember of that year the failing health of 
Lawrence Washington rendered it neces- 
sary for him to seek a warmer climate, and 
George accompanied him in a voyage to 
Barbadoes. They returned early in 1752, 
and Lawrence shortly afterward died, leav- 
ing his large property to an infant daughter. 
In his will George was named one of the 
executors and as eventual heir to Mount 
Vernon, and by the death of the infant niece 
soon succeeded to that estate. 

On the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie as 
Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia in 1752 
the militia was reorganized, and the prov- 
ince divided into four districts. Washing- 
ton was commissioned bv Dinwiddie Adju- 
tant-General of the Northern District in 
1753, and in November of that year a most 
important as well as hazardous mission was 
assigned him. This was to proceed to the 
Canadian posts recently established on 
French Creek, near Lake Erie, to demand 
in the name of the King of England the 
withdrawal of the French from a territory 
claimed by Virginia. This enterprise had 
been declined by more than one officer, 
since it involved a journev through an ex- 
tensive and almost unexplored wilderness 
in the occupancy of savage Indian tribes, 
either hostile to the English, or of doubtful 
attachment. Major Washington, however, 
accepted the commission with alacrity ; and, 
accompanied bj' Captain Gist, he reached 
Fort Le Boeuf on French Creek, delivered 
his dispatches and received reply, which, of 
course, was a polite refusal to surrender the 
posts. This reply was of such a character 



as to induce the Assembly of Virginia to 
authorize the executive to raise a regiment 
of 300 men for the purpose of maintaining 
the asserted rights of the British crown 
over the territory claimed. As_ Washing- 
ton declined to be a candidate for that post, 
the command of this regiment was given to 
Colonel Joshua Fr}^ and Major Washing- 
ton, at his own request, was commissioned 
Lieutenant-Colonel. On the march to Ohio, 
news was received that a part)' previously 
sent to build a fort at the confluence of the 
Monongahela with the Ohio had been 
driven back by a considerable French force, 
which had completed the work there be- 
gun, and named it Fort Duquesne, in honor 
of the Marquis Duquesne, then Governor 
of Canada. This was the beginning of the 
great " French and Indian war,'' which con- 
tinued seven years. On the death of Colonel 
Fry, Washington succeeded to the com- 
mand of the regiment, and so well did he 
fulfill his trust that the Virginia Assembly 
commissioned him as Commander-in-Chief 
of all the forces raised in the colony. 

A cessation of all Indian hostility on the 
frontier having followed the expulsion of 
the French from the Ohio, the object of 
Washington was accomplished and he re- 
signed his commission as Commander-in- 
Chief of the Virginia forces. He then pro- 
ceeded to Williamsburg to take his seat in 
the General Assembly, of which he had 
been elected a member. 

January 17, 1759, Washington married 
Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, a young 
and beautiful widow of great wealth, and de- 
voted himself for the ensuing fifteen years 
to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter- 
rupted only by his annual attendance in 
winter upon the Colonial Legislature at 
Williamsburg, until summoned by his 
countr}' to enter upon that other arena in 
which his fame was to become world wide. 

It is unnecessary here to trace the details 
of the struggle upon the question of local 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



self-government, which, after ten years, cul- 
minated by act of Parliament of the port of 
Boston. It was at the instance of Virginia 
that a congress of all the colonies was called 
to meet at Philadelphia September 5, 1774, 
to secure their common liberties — if possible 
by peaceful means. To this Congress 
Colonel Washington was sent as a dele- 
gate. On dissolving in October, it recom- 
mended the colonies to send deputies to 
another Congress the following spring. In 
the meantime several of the colonies felt 
impelled to raise local forces to repel in- 
sults and aggressions on the part of British 
troops, so that on the assembling of the next 
Congress, May 10, 1775, the war prepara- 
tions of the mothesr country were unmis- 
takable. The battles of Concord and Lex- 
ington had been fought. Among the earliest 
acts, therefore, of the Congress was the 
selection of a commander-in-chief of the 
colonial forces. This office was unani- 
mously conferred upon Washington, still a 
member of the Congress. He accepted it 
on June 19, but on tiie express condition he 
should receive no salary. 

He immediately repaired to the vicinity 
of Boston, against which point the British 
ministry had concentrated their forces. As , 
early as April General Gage had 3,000 ' 
troops in and around this proscribed city. [ 
During the fall and winter the British policy 
clearly indicated a purpose to divide pub- 
lic sentiment and to build up a British party 
in the colonies. Those who sided with the 
ministry were stigmatized by the patriots 
as " Tories," while the patriots took to them- 
selves the name of " Whigs." 

As early as 1776 the leading men had 
come to the conclusion that there was no 
hope except in separation and indepen- 
dence. In May of that year Washington 
wrote from the head of the army in New 
York: "A reconciliation with Great Brit- 
ain is impossible When I took 

command of the army, I abhorred the idea 



of independence ; but I am now fully satis- 
fied that nothing else will save us." 

It is not the object of this sketch to trace 
the military acts of the patriot hero, to 
whose hands the fortunes and liberties of 
the United States were confided during the 
seven years' bloody struggle that ensued 
until the treaty of 1783, in which England 
acknowledged the independence of each of 
the thirteen States, and negotiated with 
them, jointl}-, as separate sovereignties. The 
merits of Washington as a military chief- 
tain have been considerably discussed, espe- 
cially by writers in his own country. Dur- 
ing the war he was most bitterly assailed 
for incompetency, and great efforts were 
made to displace him ; but he never for a 
moment lost the confidence of either the 
Congress or the people. December 4, 1783, 
the great commander took leave of his offi- 
cers in most affectionate and patriotic terms, 
and went to Annapolis, Maryland, where 
the Congress of the States was in session, 
and to that body, when peace and order 
prevailed everywhere, resigned his com- 
mission and retired to Mount Vernon. 

It was in 1788 that Washington was called 
to the chief magistracy of the nation. He 
received every electoral vote cast in all the 
colleges of the States voting for the office 
of President. The 4th of March, 1789, was 
the time appointed for the Government of 
the United States to begin its operations, 
but several weeks elapsed before quorums 
of both the newly constituted houses of the 
Congress were assembled. The city of New 
York was the place where the Congress 
then met. April 16 Washington left his 
home to enter upon the discharge of his 
new duties. He set out with a purpose of 
traveling privately, and without attracting 
any public attention ; but this was impossi- 
ble. Everywhere on his way he was met 
with thronging crowds, eager to see the 
man wiicm they regarded as the chief de- 
fender of their liberties, and everywhere 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UXITED STATES. 



he was hailed with those public manifesta- 
tions of joy, regaicl and love which spring 
spontaneously from the hearts of an affec- 
tionate and t^rateful people. His reception 
in New York was marked by a grandeur 
and an enthusiasm never before witnessed 
in that metropolis. The inauguration took 
place April 30, in the presence of an immense 
multitude which had assembled to witness 
the new and imposing ceremony. The oath 
of office was administered by Robert R. 
Livingston, Chancellor of the State. When 
this sacred pledge was given, he retired 
with the other officials into the Senate 
chamber, where he delivered his inaugural 
address to both houses of the newly con- 
stituted Congress in joint assembly. 

In the manifold details of his civil ad- 
ministration, Washington proved himself 
equal to the requirements ol his position. 
The greater portion of the first session of 
the first Congress was occu])ied in passing 
the necessary statutes for putting the new 
organization into complete operation. In 
the discussions brought up in the course of 
tills legislati(5n the nature and character of 
the new system came under general review. 
On no one of them did any decided antago- 
nism of opinion arise. All held it to be a 
limited government, clothed only with spe- 
cific powers conferred by delegation from 
the States. There was no change in the 
name of the legislative department ; it still 
remained " the Congress of the United 
States of America." There was no chansfe 
in the original flag of the countr3',and none 
in the seal, which still remains with the 
Grecian escutcheon borne by the eagle, 
with other emblems, under the great and 
expressive motto, " E Phtribiis Uuriui." 

The first division of parties arose upon 
the manner of construing the powers dele- 
gated, and they were first styled "strict 
constructionists" and* " latitudinarian con- 
structionists." The former were for con- 
fining the action of the Government strictly 



within its specific and limited sphere, while 
the others were for enlarging its powers by 
inference and implication. Hamilton and 
Jefferson, both members of the first cabinet- 
were regarded as the chief leaders, respect 
ivel\\ of these rising antagonistic parties, 
which have existed, under different names 
from that day to this. Washington was re- 
garded as holding a neutral position between 
them, though, by mature deliberation, he 
vetoed the first apportionment bill, in 1790, 
passed by the party headed by Hamilton, 
which was based upon a principle construct- 
ively leading to centralization or consoli- 
dation. This was the first exercise of the 
veto power under the present Constitution. 
It created considerable excitement at the 
time. Another bill was soon passed in pur- 
suance of Mr. Jefferson's views, which has 
been adi.ered to in principle in every ap- 
portionment act passed since. 

At the second session of the new Con- 
gress, Washington announced the gratif}'- 
ing fact of " the accession of North Caro- 
lina" to the Constitution of 1787, and June 
I of the same year he announced by special 
message the like " accession of the State of 
Rhode Island," with his congratulations on 
the happy event which " united under the 
general Government" all the States which 
were originally confederated. 

In 1793, at the second Presidential elec- 
tion, Washington was desirous to retire; 
but he yielded to the general wish of the 
country, and was again chosen President 
by the unanimous vote of every electoral 
college. At the third election, 1796, he was 
again most urgently entreated to consent to 
remain in the executive chair. This he 
positively refused. In September, before 
the election, he gave to his countrymen his 
memorable Farewell Address, which in lan- 
guage, sentiment and patriotism was a fit 
and crowning glory of his illustrious life. 
After March 4, 1797, he again retired to 
Mount Vernon for peace, quiet and repose. 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



13 



His administration for the two terms had 
been successful beyond tiie expectation and 
hopes of even the most sanguine of his 
friends. The finances of the country were 
no longer in an embarrassed condition, the 
public credit was fully restored, life was 
given to every department of industry, the 
workings of the new system in allowing 
Congress to raise revenue from duties on 
imjiorts proved to be not only harmonious 
in its federal action, but astonishing in its 
results upon the commerce and trade of all 
the States. The e.xports from the Union 
increased from $19,000,000 to over $56,000,- 
000 per annum, while the imports increased 
in about the same proportion. Three new 



chief to quit his repose at Mount Vernon 
and take command of all the United States 
forces, with tlie rank of Lieutenant-General, 
when war was threatened with France in 
1798, nothing need here be stated, except to 
note the fact as an unmistakable testimo- 
nial of the high regard in which he was still 
held by his countrymen, of all shades of po- 
litical opinion. He patriotically accepted 
this trust, but a treaty of peace put a stop 
to all action under it. He again retired to 
Mount Vernon, where, after a short and 
severe illness, he died December 14, 1799, 
in the sixty-eighth year of his age. The 
whole countr}^ was filled with gloom by this 
sad intelligence. Men of all parties in poli- 



membershadbeenadded to the Union. The tics and creeds in rehgion, in every State 



progress of the States in their new career 
under their new organization thus far was 
exceedingly encouraging, not only to the 
friends of libctv within their own limits, 
but to their sympathizing allies in all climes 
and countries. 

CM the call again made on this iUustrious 



in the Union, united with Congress in " pay- 
ing honor to the man, first in war, first in 
peace, and first in the hearts of his country- 
men " 

His remains were deposited in a family 
vault on the banks of the Potomac at Mount 
Vernon, where they still lie entombed. 




4-, fm. 



14 



PRbS/DENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



=, - ■ '.^^4«S?-»Sflf'""""-^'iSS»fffi5fi^i?!S!B:°> V' ^ 




OHN ADAMS, the second 
President of the United 
States, 1797 to 1801, was 
born in the present town 
,._ of Quinc_v, then a portion 
2* of Braintree, Massachu- 
setts, October 30, 1735. His 
father was a farmer of mod- 
erate means, a worthy and 
industrious man. He was 
a deacon in the church, and 
was very desirous of gi'"ing 
his son a collegiate educa- 
tion, hoping that he would 
become a minister of the 
jospel. But, as up to this 
time, the age of fourteen, he 'had been only 
a play-boy in the fields and forests, he had 
no taste for books, he chose farming. On 
being set to work, however, by his father 
out in the field, the very first day con- 
verted the boy into a lover of books. 

Accordingly, at the age of sixteen he 
entered Harvard College, and graduated in 
1755, at the age of twenty, highly esteemed 
for integrity, energy and ability. Thus, 
having no capital but his education, he 
started out into the stormy world at a time 
of great political exxitement, as France and 
England were then engaged in their great 
seven-years struggle for the mastery over 
the New World. The fire of patriotism 



seized young Adams, and for a time he 
studied over the question whether he 
should take to the law, to politics or the 
army. He wrote a remarkable letter to a 
friend, making prophecies concerning the 
future greatness of this country which have 
since been more than fulfilled. For two 
years he taught school and studied law, 
wasting no odd moments, and at the early 
age of twenty-two years he opened a law 
office in his native town. His inherited 
powers of mind and untiring devotion to 
his profession caused him to rise rapidly 
in public esteem. 

In October, 1764, Mr. Adams married 
Miss Abigail Smith, daughter of a clergy- 
man at Weymouth and a lady of rare per- 
sonal and intellectual endowments, who 
afterward contributed much to her hus- 
band's celebrity. 

Soon the oppression of the British in 
America reached its climax. The Boston 
merchants employed an attorney by the 
name of James Otis to argue the legality of 
oppressive tax law before the Superior 
Court. Adams heard the argument, and 
afterward wrote to a friend concerning the 
ability displayed, as follows : " Otis was a 
fiame of fire. With a promptitude of 
classical allusion, a depth of research, a 
rapid summary of historical events and 
dates, a profusion of legal authorities and a 




Jc^fiJdc 



mm 



JOHN ADAMS. 



■7 



prophetic glance into futurity, he hurried 
away all before him. American independence 
ivas then and there born. Every man of an 
immensely crowded audience appeared to 
me to go away, as I did, read}' to take up 
arms." 

Soon Mr. Adams wrote an essay to be 
read before the literary club of his town, 
upon the state of affairs, which was so able 
as to attract public attention. It was pub- 
lished in American journals, republished 
in England, and was pronounced b}' the 
friends of the colonists there as " one of the 
very best productions ever seen from North 
America." 

The memorable Stamp Act was now ' 
issued, and Adams entered with all the 
ardor of his soul into political life in order 
to resist it. He drew up a series of reso- 
lutions remonstrating against the act, which 
were adopted at a public meeting of the 
citizens of Braintree, and which were sub- 
sequently adopted, word for word, by m(5re 
than forty towns in the State. Popular 
commotion prevented the landing of the 
Stamp Act papers, and the English author- 
ities then-closed the courts. The town of 
Boston therefore appointed Jeremy Grid- 
ley, James Otis and John Adams to argue a 
petition before the Governor and council 
for the re-opening of the courts; and while 
the two first mentioned attorneys based 
their argument upon the distress caused to 
the people by the measure, Adams boldly 
claimed that the Stamp Act was a violation 
both of the English Constitution and the 
charter of the Provinces. It is said that 
this was the first direct denial of the un- 
limited right of Parliament over the colo- 
nies. Soon after this the Stamp Act was 
repealed. 

Directl}' Mr. Adams was employed to 
defend Ansell Nickerson, who had killed an 
Englishman in the act of impressing him 
(Nickerson) into the King's service, and his 
client was acquitted, the court thus estab- 



lishing the principle that the infamous 
royal prerogative of impressment could 
have no existence in the colonial code. 
But in 1770 Messrs. x\dams and Josiah 
Quincy defended a party of British soldiers 
who had been arrested for murder when 
the_v had been only obeying Governmental 
orders ; and when reproached for thus ap- 
parently deserting the cause of popular 
liberty, Mr. Adams replied that he would a 
thousandfold rather live under the domina- 
tion of the worst of England's kings than 
under that of a lawle.ss mob. Next, after 
serving a term as a member of the Colonial 
Legislature from Boston, Mr. Adams, find- 
ing his health affected by too great labor, 
retired to his native home at Braintree. 

The year 1774 soon arrived, with its fa- 
mous Boston '• Tea Party," the first open 
act of rebellion. Adams was sent to the 
Congress at Philadelphia ; and when the 
Attorney-General announced that Great 
Britain had " determined on her system, 
and that her power to execute it was irre- 
sistible," Adams replied : " I know that 
Great Britain has determined on her sys- 
tem, and that very determination deter- 
mines me on mine. You know that I have 
been constant in my opposition to her 
measures. The die is now cast. I have 
passed the Rubicon. Sink or swim, live or 
die, with m}- countr}-, is ni}' unalterable 
determination." The rumor beginning to 
prevail at Philadelphia that the Congress 
had independence in view, Adams foresaw 
that it was too soon to declare it openly. 
He advised every one to remain quiet in 
that respect ; and as soon as it became ap- 
parent that he himself was for independ- 
ence, he was advised to hide himself, which 
he did. 

The next year the great Revolutionary 
war opened in earnest, and Mrs. Adams, 
residing near Boston, kept her husband ad- 
vised by letter of all the events transpiring 
in her vicinity. The battle of Bunker Hill 



18 



r-RES/DENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Congress had to do something 



came on _ 

immediatel}'. The first thing was to 
choose a commander-in-chief for the— we 
can't say " army " — the fighting men of the 
colonies. The New England delegation 
was almost unanimous in favor of appoint- 
ing General Ward, then at the head of the 
Massachusetts forces, but Mr. Adams urged 
the appointment of George Washington, 
then almost unknown outside of his own 
State. He was appointed without oppo- 
sition. Mr. Adams offered the resolution, 
which was adopted, annulling all the ro3'al 
authority in the colonies. Having thus 
prepared the wav, a few weeks later, viz., 
June 7. 1776, Richard Hcnrv Lee, of Y'n- 
ginia, who a few months before had declared 
that the British Government would aban- 
don its oppressive measures, now offered 
the memorable resolution, seconded by 
Adams, "that these United States are, and 
of right ought to be, free and independent." 
Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Sherman and 
Livingston were then appointed a commit- 
tee to draught a declaration of independ- 
ence. Mr. Jefferson desired Mr. Adams 
to draw up the bold document, but the 
latter persuaded Mr. Jefferson to perform 
that responsible task. The Declaration 
drawn up, Mr. Adams became its foremost 
defender on the floor of Congress. It was 
signed by all the fifty-five members present, 
and the next day Mr. Adams wrote to his 
wife how great a deed was done, and how 
proud he was of it. Mr. Adams continued 
to be the leading man of Congress, and 
the leading advocate of American inde- 
pendence. Above all other Americans, 
he was considered b}' every one the prin- 
cipal shining mark for British vengeance. 
Thus circumstanced, he was appointed to 
the most dangerous task of crossing the 
ocean in winter, exposed to capture by the 
British, who knew of his mission, which 
was to visit Paris and solicit the co-opera- 
tion of the French. Besides, to take him- 



self awa}- from the country of which he 
was the most prominent defender, at that 
critical time, was an act of the greatest self- 
sacrifice. Sure enough, while crossing the 
sea, he had two very narrow escapes from 
capture ; and the transit was otherwise a 
stormy and eventful one. During thc- 
summer of 1779 he returned home, but was 
immediately dispatched back to France, to 
be in readiness there to negotiate terms of 
peace and commerce with Great Britain as 
soon as the latter power was ready for such 
business. But as Dr. Franklin was more 
popular than heat the court of France, Mr. 
Adams repaired to Holland, where he was 
far more successful as a diplomatist. 

The treat}' of peace between the United 
States and England was finally signed at 
Paris, Januar}^ 21, 1783; and the re-action 
from so great exxitement as Mr. Adams had 
so long been experiencing threw him into 
a dangerous fever. Before he fully re- 
covered he was in London, whence he was 
dispatched again to Amsterdam to negoti- 
ate another loan. Compliance with this 
order undermined his physical constitution 
for life. 

In 1785 Mr. Adams was appointed envoy 
to the court of St. James, to meet face to 
face the very king who had regarded him 
as an arch traitor! Accordingly he re- 
paired thither, where he did actually meet 
and converse with George III.! After a 
residence there for about three years, he 
obtained permission to return to America. 
While in London he wrote and published 
an able work, in three volumes, entitled: 
" A Defense of the American Constitution." 

The Articles of Confederation proving 
inefficient, as Adams had prophesied, a 
carefully draughted Constitution was 
adopted in 1789, when George Washington 
was elected President of the new nation, 
and Adams Vice-President. Congress met 
for a time in New York, but was removed 
to Philadelphia for ten j-ears, until suitable 



JOHN ADAMS. 



19 



buildings should be erected at the new 
capital in the District of CoUimbia. Mr. 
Adams then moved his family to Phila- 
delphia. Toward the close of his term of 
office the French Revolution culminated, 
when Adams and Washington rather 
S3'mpathized with England, and Jefferson 
with France. The Presidential election of 
1796 resulted in giving Mr. Adams the first 
place by a small majority, and Mr. Jeffer- 
son the second place. 

Mr. Adams's administration was consci- 
entious, patriotic and able. The period 
was a turbulent one, and even an archangel 
could not have reconciled the hostile par- 
ties. Partisanism with reference to Eng- 
land and France was bitter, and for four 
years Mr. Adams struggled through almost 
a constant tempest of assaults. In fact, he 
was not truly a popular man, and his cha- 
grin at not receiving a re-election was so 
great that he did not even remain at Phila- 
delphia to witness the inauguration of Mr. 
Jefferson, his successor. The friendly 
intimac}' between these two men was 
interrupted for about thirteen j-ears of their 
life. Adams finallv made the first advances 
toward a restoration of their mutual friend- 
ship, which were gratefully accepted bv 
Jefferson. 

Mr. Adams was glad of his opportunit)- 
to retire to private lite, where he could rest 
his mind and enjoy the comforts of home. 
By a thousand bitter experiences he found 
the path of public duty a thorny one. For 
twenty-six years his service of the public 
was as arduous, self-sacrificing and devoted 
as ever fell to the lot of man. In one im- 
portant sense he was as much the " Father 
of his Country " as was Washington in 
another sense. During these long )'ears of 
anxiety and toil, in which he was laj'ing. 
broad and deep, the foundations of the 



greatest nation the sun ever shone upon, he 
received from his impoverished country a 
meager support. The only privilege he 
carried with him into his retirement was 
that of franking his letters. 

Although taking no active part in public 
affairs, both himself and his son, John 
Quincy, nobly supported the policy of Mr. 
Jefferson in resisting the encroachments of 
England, who persisted in searching 
American ships on the high seas and 
dragging from them any sailors that might 
be designated by any pert lieutenant as 
British subjects. Even for this noble sup- 
port Mr. Adams was maligned by thou- 
sands of bitter enemies ! On this occasion, 
for the first time since his retirement, he 
broke silence and drew up a very able 
paper, exposing the atrocity of the British 
pretensions. , 

Mr. Adams outlived nearly all hisfamil3\ 
Though his physical frame began to give 
way many years before his death, his mental 
powers retained their strength and vigor to 
the last. In his ninetieth )ear he was 
gladdened by the popular elevation of his 
son to the Presidential office, the highest in 
the gift of the people. A few months more 
passed away and the 4th of Julv, 1826, 
arrived. The people, unaware of the near 
approach of the end of two great lives — 
that of Adams and Jefferson — were making 
unusual preparations for a national holiday. 
Mr. Adams lay upon his couch, listening to 
the ringing of bells, the waftures of martial 
music and the roar of cannon, with silent 
emotion. Only four days before, lie had 
given for a public toast, " Independence 
forever." About two o'clock in the after- 
noon he said, "And Jefferson still survives." 
But he was mistaken by an hour or so; 
and in a few minutes he had breathed his 
last. 



PRESrOE.VTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



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^g^HOMAS JEFFER- 

iriff ^""' ^^^ third Presi- 
dent of the United 
States, 1801-9, ^^"^s 
born April 2, 1743, 
the eldest child of 
his parents, Peter 
and Jane (Randolph) Jef- 
ferson, near Charlottes- 
ville, Albemarle County, 
Virginia, upon the slopes 
ofthe Blue Ridge. When 
he -was fourteen years of 
age, his father died, leav- 
ing a widow and eight 
children. She was a beau- 
tiful and accomplished 
good letter-writer, with a fund of 
humor, and an admirable housekeeper. His 
parents belonged to the Church of England, 
and are said to be of Welch origin. But 
little is known of them, however. 

Thomas was naturally of a serious turn 
of mind, apt to learn, and a favorite at 
school, his choice studies bemg mathemat- 
ics and the classics. At the age of seven- 
teen he entered William and Mary College, 
in an advanced class, and lived in rather an 
expensive style, consequently being much 
caressed by gay society. That he was not 
ruined, is proof of his stamina of character. 
But during his second year he discarded 



lady. 



society, his horses and even his favorite 
violin, and devoted thenceforward fifteen 
hours a day to hard study, becoming ex- 
traordinarily proficient in Latin and Greek 
authors. 

On leaving college, before he was twenty- 
one, he commenced the study of law, and 
pursued it diligently until he was well 
qualified for practice, upon which he 
entered in 1767. Bv this time he was also 
versed in French, Spanish, Italian and An- 
glo-Saxon, and in the criticism of the fine 
arts. Being very polite and polished in his 
manners, he won the friendship of all whom 
he met. Though able with his pen, he was 
not fluent in public speech. 

In 1769 he was chosen a member of the 
Virginia Legislature, and was the largest 
slave-holding member of that body. He 
introduced a bill empowering slave-holders 
to manumit their slaves, but it was rejected 
by an overwhelmiilg vote. 

In 1770 Mr. Jefferson met with a great 
loss ; his house at Shadwell was burned, 
and his valuable library of 2,000 volumes 
was consumed. But he was wealthy 
enough to replace the most of it, as from 
his 5,000 acres tilled by slaves and his 
practice at the bar his income amounted to 
about $5,000 a year. 

In 1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, 
a beautiful, wealthy and accomplished 




f 

\ 




y^zz^ 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



n 



young widow, who owned 40,000 acres of 
land and 130 slaves; yet he labored assidu- 
ously for the abolition of slavery. For his 
new home he selected a majestic rise of 
land upon his large estate at Shadwell, 
called Monticello, ' whereon he erected a 
mansion of modest yet elegant architecture. 
Here he lived in luxury, indulging his taste 
in magnificent, high-blooded horses. 

At this period the British Government 
gradually became more insolent and op- 
pressive toward the American colonies, 
and Mr. Jefferson was ever one of the most 
foremost to resist its encroachments. From 
time to time he drew up resolutions of re- 
monstrance, which were finally adopted, 
thus proving his ability as a statesman and 
as a leader. By the year 1774 he became 
quite bus}', both with voice and pen, in de- 
fending the right of the colonies to defend 
themselves. His pamphlet entitled : " A 
Summary View of the Rights of British 
America," attracted much attention in Eng- 
land. The following year he, in company 
with George Washington, served as an ex- 
ecutive committee in measures to defend 
by arms the State of Virginia. As a Mem- 
ber of the Congress, he was not a speech- 
maker, yet in conversation and upon 
committees he was so frank and decisive 
that he always made a favorable impression. 
But as late as the autumn of 1775 he re- 
mained in hopes of reconciliation with the 
parent country. 

At length, however, the hour arrived for 
draughting the " Declaration of Indepen- 
dence," and this responsible task was de- 
volved upon Jefferson. Franklin, and 
Adams suggested a few verbal corrections 
before it was submitted to Congress, which 
was June 28, 1776, only six days before it 
was adopted. During the three days of 
the fiery ordeal of criticism through which 
it passed in Congress, Mr. Jefferson opened 
not his lips. John Adams was the main 
champion of the Declaration on the floor 



of Congress. The signing of this document 
was one of the most solemn and momentous 
occasions ever attended to by man. Prayer 
and silence reigned throughout the hall, 
and each signer realized that if American 
independence was not finally sustained by 
arms he was doomed to the scaffold. 

After the colonies became independent 
States, Jefferson resigned for a time his seat 
in Congress in order. to aid in organizing 
the government of Virginia, of which State 
he was chosen Governor in 1779, when he 
was thirty-six years of age. At this time 
the British had possession of Georgia and 
were invading South Carolina, and at one 
time a British officer, Tarleton, sent a 
secret expedition to Monticello to capture 
the Governor. Five minutes after iNIr. 
Jefferson escaped with his family, his man- 
sion was in possession of the enemy ! The 
British troops also destroyed his valuable 
plantation on the James River. " Had tiiey 
carried off the slaves," said Jefferson, with 
characteristic magnanimity, " to give them 
freedom, the}' would have done right." 

The year 1781 was a gloomy one for the 
Virginia Governor. While confined to his 
secluded home in the forest by a sick and 
dying wife, a party arose against him 
throughout the State, severely criticising 
his course as Governor. Being very sensi- 
tive to reproach, this touched him to the 
quick, and the heap of troubles then sur- 
rounding him nearly crushed him. He re- 
solved, in despair, to retire from public life 
for the rest of his days. For weeks Mr. 
Jefferson sat lovingly, but with a crushed 
heart, at the bedside of his sick wife, during 
which time unfeeling letters were sent to 
him, accusing him of weakness and unfaith- 
fulness to duty. All this, after he had lost 
so much property and at the same time 
done so much for his country! After her 
death he actually fainted away, and re- 
mained so long insensible that it was feared 
he never would recover! Several weeks 



p:;i-:siosvTS of the u.y/ted sr.iTES. 



passed before he coulc] fully recover his 
equilibrium. He was never married a 
second time. 

In the spring of 17S2 the people of Eng- 
land compelled their king to make to the 
Americans overtures of peace, and in No- 
vember following, Mr. Jefferson was reap- 
pointed by Congress, unanimously and 
without a single adverse remark, minister 
plenipotentiary to negotiate a treat}'. 

In March, 1784, Mr. Jefferson was ap- 
pointed on a committee to draught a plan 
for the government of the Northwestern 
Territory. His slavery-prohibition clause 
in that plan was stricken out by the pro- 
slavery majority of the committee; but amid 
all the controversies and wrangles of poli- 
ticians, he made it a rule never to contra- 
dict an3'bod3- or engage in any discussion 
as a debater. 

In company with Mr. Adams and Dr. 
Franklin, Mr. Jefferson was appointed in 
May, 1784, to act as minister plenipotentiary 
in the negotiation of treaties of commerce 
with foreign nations. According!}', he went 
to Paris and satisfactorily accomplished his 
mission. The suavity and high bearing of 
his manner made all the French his friends; 
and even Mrs. Adams at one time wrote 
to her sister that he was " the chosen 
of the earth." But all the honors that 
he received, both at home and abroad, 
seemed to make no change in the simplicity 
of his republican tastes. On his return to 
America, he found two parties respecting 
the foreign commercial policy, Mr. Adams 
svmpathizing with that in favor of England 
and himself favoring France. 

On the inauguration of General Wash- 
ington as President, Mr. Jefferson was 
chosen by him for the office of Secretary of 
State. At this time the rising storm of the 
French Revolution became visible, and 
Washington watched it with great anxiety. 
His cabinet was divided in their views of 
constitutional government as well as re- 



garding the issues in France. General 
Hamilttjn, Secretarv of the Treasury, was 
the leader of the so-called Federal partv, 
while Mr. Jefferson was the leader of the 
Republican party. At the same time there 
was a strong monarchical party in this 
country, with which Mr. Adams svmpa- 
thized. Some important financial measures, 
wiiich were proposed by Hamilton and 
finally adopted by the cabinet and approved 
by Washington, were opposed by Mr. 
Jefferson ; and his enemies then began to 
reproach him with holding office under an 
administration whose views he opposed. 
The President poured oil on the troubled 
waters. On his re-election to the Presi- 
dency he desired Mr. Jefferson to remain 
in the cabinet, but the latter sent in his 
resignation at two different times, probably 
because he was dissatisfied with some of 
the measures of the Government. His 
final one was not received until January i, 
1794, when General Washington parted 
from him with great regret. 

Jefferson then retired to his quiet home 
at Monticello, to enjoy a good rest, not even 
reading the newspapers lest the political 
gossip should disquiet him. On the Presi- 
dent's again calling him back to the office 
of Secretary of State, he replied that no 
circumstances would ever again tempt him 
to engage in anything public! But, while 
all Europe was ablaze with war, and France 
in the throes of a bloodv revolution and the 
principal theater of the conflict, a new 
Presidential election in this country came 
on. John Adams was the Federal candi- 
date and Mr. Jefferson became the Republi- 
can candidate. The result of the election 
was the promotion of the latter to the Vice- 
Presidency, while the former was chosen 
President. In this contest Mr. Jefferson 
really did not desire to have either office, 
he was "so weary" of party strife. He 
loved the retirement of home more than 
any other place on the earth. 



THOMAS JEFFERSOX. 



25 



But for four long years his Vice-Presi- 
dency passed joylessly away, while the 
partisan strife between Federalist and Re- 
publican was ever g-rowing hotter. The 
former party split and the result of the 
fourth general election was the elevation of 
Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency ! with 
Aaron Burr as Vice-President. These men 
being at the head of a growing party, their 
election was hailed everywhere with joy. 
On the other hand, many of the Federalists 
turned pale, as they believed what a portion 
of the pulpit and the press had been preach- 
ing — that Jefferson was a " scoffing atheist," 
a "Jacobin," the "incarnation of all evil," 
" breathing threatening and slaughter ! " 

Mr. Jefferson's inaugural address con- 
tained nothing but the noblest sentiments, 
expressed in fine language, and his personal 
behavior afterward exhibited the extreme 
of American, democratic simplicity. His 
disgust of European court etiquette grew 
upon him with age. Me believed that 
General Washington was somewhat dis- 
trustful of the ultimate success of a popular 
Government, and that, imbued with a little 
admiration of the forms of a monarchical 
Government, he had instituted levees, birth- 
davs, pompous meetings with Congress, 
etc. Jefferson was always polite, even to 
slaves everywhere he met them, and carried 
in his countenance the indications of an ac- 
commodating disposition. 

The political principles of the Jeffersoni- 
an party now swept the country, and Mr. 
Jefferson himself swayed an influence which 
was never exceeded even by Washington. 
Under his administration, in 1803, the Lou- 
isiana purchase was made, for §15,000,000, 
the " Louisiana Territory " purchased com- 
prising all the land west of the Mississippi 
to the Pacific Ocean. 

The vear 1804 witnessed another severe 
loss in his familv. His highly accomplished 
and most beloved daughter Maria sickened 
and died, causing as great grief in the 



stricken parent as it was possible for him to 
survive with any degree of sanity. 

The same year he was re-elected to the 
Presidenc}', with George Clinton as Vice- 
President. During his second term our 
relations wdth England became more com- 
plicated, and on June 22, 1807, near Hamp- 
ton Roads, the United States frigate 
Chesapeake was fired upon by the Brit- 
ish man-of-war Leopard, and was made 
to surrender. Three men were killed and 
ten wounded. Jefferson demanded repara- 
tion. England grew insolent. It became 
evident that war was determined upon by 
the latter power. More than 1,200 Ameri- 
cans were forced into the British service 
upon the high seas. Before any satisfactory 
solution was reached, Mr. Jefferson's 
Presidential term closed. Amid all these 
public excitements he thought constantly 
of the welfare of his family, and longed 
for the time when he could return home 
to remain. There, at Monticello, his sub- 
sequent life was very similar to that of 
Washington at Mt. Vernon. His hospi- 
tality toward his numerous friends, indul- 
gence of his slaves, and misfortunes to his 
property, etc., finally involved him in debt. 
For years his home resembled a fashion- 
able watering-place. During the summer, 
thirty-seven house servants were required ! 
It was presided over by his daughter. Mrs. 
Randolph. 

Mr. Jefferson did rnuch for the establish- 
ment of the University at Charlottesville, 
making it unsectarian, in keeping with the 
spirit of American institutions, but poverty 
and the feebleness of old age prevented 
him from doing what he would. He even 
went so far as to petition the Legislature 
for permission to dispose of some of his 
possessions by lottery, in order to raise the 
necessary funds for home expenses. It was 
granted ; but before the plan was carried 
out, Mr. Jefferson died, July 4, 1826, at 

12:50 P. M. 



;6 



PRESIDEXTS OF THE V SITED STATES. 



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y'AMES MADISON, the 

=: fourth President of the 

i^ United States, 1809-'! 7. 

Y was bom at Port Con- 

wav, Prince George 

„ -/ County. Virginia, March 

16. 1 75 1. His father. 

Colonel James Madison, was 

a wealthy planter, residing 

upon a verv fine estate 

called ■■ Montpelier," only 

twentv-five miles from the 

home of Thomas Jefferson 

at Monticello. The closest 

personal and political at- 

'^ tachment existed between 

these illustrious men from their early youth 

until death. 

James was the eldest 01 a lamily of seven 
children, four sons and three daughters, all 
of whom attained maturity. His early edu- 
cation was conducted mostly at home, 
under a private tutor. Being naturally in- 
tellectual in his tastes, he consecrated him- 
self with unusual vigor to study. At a verv 
early age he made considerable proficiency 
in the Greek, Latin, French and Spanish 
languages. In 1769 he entered Princeton 
College, New Jersey, of which the illus- 
trious Dr. Weatherspoon was then Presi- 
dent. He graduated in 1771, with a char- 



acter of the utmost purity, and a mind 
highlv disciplined and stored with all the 
learning which embellished and gave effi- 
ciency to his subsequent career. After 
graduating he pursued a course of reading 
for several months, under the guidance of 
President Weatherspoon, and in 1772 re- 
turned to Virginia, where he continued in 
incessant study for two years, nominally 
directed to the law, but really including 
extended researches in theologA", philoso- 
phy and general literature. 

The Church of England was the estab- 
lished church in Virginia, invested with all 
the prerogatives and immunities which it 
enjoved in the fatherland, and other de- 
nominations labored under serious disabili- 
ties, the enforcement of which was rightly 
or wrongly characterized by them as per- 
secution. Madison took a prominent stand 
in behalf of the removal of all disabilities, 
repeatedlv appeared in the court of his own 
county to defend the Baptist nonconform- 
ists, and was elected from Orange County to 
the Virginia Convention in the spring of 
1766, when he signalized the beginning of 
his public career by procuring the passage 
of an amendment to the Declaration of 
Rights as prepared by George Mason, sub- 
stituting for '• toleration" a more emphatic 
assertion of religious liberty. 




-(--t^ ifti,-<%^ 



JAMES MADISON. 



29 



In 1776 he was elected a member of the 
Virginia Convention to frame the Constitu- 
tion of the State. Like Jefferson, lie took 
but little part in the public debates. His 
main strength lay in his conversational in- 
fluence and in his pen. In November, 1777, 
he was chosen a member of the Council of 
State, and in March, 1780, took his seat in 
the Continental Congress, where he first 
gained prominence through his energetic 
opposition to the issue of paper money b}^ 
the States. He continued in Congress three 
years, one of its most active and influential 
members. 

In 1784 Mr. Madison was elected a mem- 
ber of the Virginia Legislature. He ren- 
dered important service by promoting and 
participating in that revision of the statutes 
which effectually abolished the remnants of 
the feudal system subsistent up to that 
time in the form of entails, primogeniture, 
and State support given the Anglican 
Church ; and his " Memorial and Remon- 
strance" against a general assessment for 
the support of religion is one of the ablest 
papers which emanated from his pen. It 
settled the question of the entire separation 
of church and State in Virginia. 

Mr. Jefferson says of him, in allusion to 
the study and experience through which he 
had already passed : 

" Trained in these successive schools, he 
acquired a habit of self-possession which 
placed at ready command the rich resources 
of his luminous and discriminating mind and 
of his extensive information, and rendered 
him the first of every assembly of which he 
afterward became a member. Never wan- 
dering from his subject into vain declama- 
tion, but pursuing it closelv in language 
pure, classical and copious, soothing al- 
ways the feelings of his adversaries by civili- 
ties and softness of expression, he rose to the 
emi".cnt station which he held in the sfreat 
N?.^ional Convention of 17S7; and in that of 
Virginia, which followed, he sustained the 



new Constitution in all its parts, bearing off 
the palm against the logic of George Mason 
and the fervid declamation of Patrick 
Henrjr. With these consummate powers 
were united a pure and spotless virtue 
which no calumny has ever attempted to 
sully. Of the power and polish of his pen, 
and of the wisdom of his administration in 
the highest otifice of the nation, I need say 
nothing. They have spoken, and will for- 
ever speak, for themselves." 

In Januar}', 1786, Mr. Madison took the 
initiative in proposing a meeting of State 
Commissioners to devise measures for more 
satisfactory commercial relations between 
the States. A meeting was held at An- 
napolis to discuss this subject, and but five 
States were represented. The convention 
issued another call, drawn up by Mr. Madi- 
son, urging all the States to send their dele- 
gates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to 
draught a Constitution for the United 
States. The delegates met at the time ap- 
pointed, every State except Rhode Island 
being represented. George Washington 
was chosen president of the convention, 
and the present Constitution of the United 
States was then and there formed. There 
was no mind and no pen more active in 
framing this immortal document than the 
mind and pen of James Madison. He was, 
perhaps, its ablest advocate in the pages of 
the Federalist. 

Mr. Madison was a member of the first 
four Congresses, i789-'97, in which he main- 
tained a moderate opposition to Hamilton's 
financial policy. He declined the mission 
to France and the Secretaryship of State, 
and, gradually identifying himself with the 
Republican party, became from 1792 its 
avowed leader. In 1796 he was its choice 
for the Presidency as successor to Wash- 
ington. Mr. Jefferson wrote: "There is 
not another person in the United States 
with whom, being placed at the helm of our 
affairs, my mind would be so completely at 



3° 



PKhS/DEIVTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



rest for the fortune of our political bark." 
But >fr. Madison declined to be a candi- 
natc. His term in Cong'rcss had expired, 
and ho returned from New York to his 
beau.tiful retreat at Montpelier. 

In 1/94 Mr. Madison married a young 
widow of remarkable powers of fascination 
— Mrs. Todd. Her maiden name was Doro- 
thy Paine. She was born in 1767, in Vir- 
ginia, of Quaker parents, and had been 
educated in the strictest rules of that sect. 
When but eighteen years of age she married 
a young lawyer and moved to Philadelphia, 
where she was introduced to brilliant scenes 
of fashionable life. She speedily laid aside 
the dress and address of the Quakeress, and 
became one of the most fascinating ladies | 
of the republican court. In New York, 
after the death of her husband, she was the 
belle of the season and was surrounded with 
admirers. Mr. Madison won the prize. 
She proved an invaluable helpmate. In 
Washington she was the life of society. 
If there was any diffident, timid young 
girl just making her appearance, she 
found in Mrs. Madison an encouraging 
friend. 

During the stormy administration of John 
Adams Madison remained in private life, 
but was the author of the celebrated " Reso- 
lutions of 1798," adopted by the Virginia 
Legislature, in condemnation of the Alien 
and Sedition laws, as well as of the " report" 
in which he defended those resolutions, 
which is, by many, considered his ablest 
State paper. 

The storm passed away ; the Alien and 
Sedition laws were repealed, John Adams 
lost his re-election, and in 1801 Thomas Jef- 
ferson was chosen President. The great re- 
action in public sentiment which seated 
Jefferson in the presidential chair was large- 
ly owing to the writings of Madison, who 
was consequently well entitled to the post 
of Secretary of State. With great ability 
he discharged the duties of this responsible 



office during the eight ^-ears of Mr. Jeffer- 
son's administration. 

As Mr. Jefferson was a widower, and 
neither of his daughters could be often with 
him, Mrs. Madison usually presided over 
the festivities of the White House; and as 
her husband succeeded Mr. Jefferson, hold- 
ing his office for two terms, this remarkable 
woman was the mistress of the presidential 
mansion for sixteen years. 

Mr. Madison being entirely engrossed by 
the cares of his office, all the duties of so- 
cial life devolved upon his accomplished 
wife.' Never were such responsibilities 
more ably discharged. The most bitter 
foes of her husband and of the administra- 
tion were received with the frankly prof- 
fered hand and the cordial smile of wel- 
come; and the influence of this gentle 
woman in allaying the bitterness of party 
rancor became a great and salutary power 
in the nation. 

As the term of Mr. Jefferson's Presidency 
drew near its close, party strife was roused 
to the utmost to elect his successor. It was 
a death-grapple between the two great 
parties, the Federal and Republican. Mr. 
Madison was chosen President by an elec- 
toral vote of 122 to 53, and was inaugurated 
March 4, 1S09, at a critical period, when 
the relations of the United States with Great 
Britain were becoming embittered, and his 
first term was passed in diplomatic quarrels, 
aggravated by the act of non-intercourse of 
May, 1810, and finally resulting in a decla- 
ration of war. 

On the iSth of June, 1812, President 
Madison gave his approval to an act of 
Congress declaring war against Great Brit- 
ain. Notwithstanding the bitter hostility 
of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved ; and in the autumn 
Madison was re-elected to the Presidency 
by 128 electoral votes to 89 in favor of 
George Clinton. 

.March 4, 1S17, Madison yielded the Presi- 



JA.UhS MAD/SUN. 



31 



dency to his Secretary of State and inti- 
mate friend, James Monroe, and retired to 
his ancestral estate at Montpelier, where he 
passed the evening of his days surrounded 
by attached friends and enjoying the 
merited respect of the whole nation. He 
took pleasure in promoting^griculture, as 
president of the county society, and in 
watching the development of the University 
of Virginia, of which he was long rector and 
visitor. In extreme old age he sat in 1829 
as a member of the convention called to re- 
form the Virginia Constitution, where his 
appearance was hailed with the most gen- 
uine interest and satisfaction, though he 
was too infirm :o participate in the active 
work of revision. Small in stature, slender 
and delicate in form, with a countenance 
full of intelligence, and expressive alike of 
mildness and dignity, he attracted the atten- 
tion of all who attended the convention, 
and was treated with the utmost deference. 
He seldom addressed the assembly, though 
he always appeared self-possessed, and 
watched with unflagging interest the prog- 
ress of every measure. Though the con- 
vention sat sixteen weeks, he spoke only 
twice ; but when he did speak, the whole 
house paused to listen. His voice was 
feeble though his enunciation was very dis- 
tinct. One of the reporters, Mr. Stansbury, 
relates t^he following anecdote of Mr. Madi- 
son's last speech: 

" The next day, as there was a great call 
for it, and the report had not been returned 
for publication, 1 sent my son with a re- 
spectful note, requesting the manuscript. 
My son was a lad of sixteen, whom I had 
taken with mc to act as amanuensis. On 
delivering my note, he was received with 
the utmost politeness, and requested to 
come up into Mr. Madison's room and wait 
while his eye ran over the paper, as com- 
pany had prevented his attending to it. He 
did so, and Mr. Madison sat down to correct 
the report. The lad stood near him so that 



his eye fell on the paper. Coming to a 
certain sentence in the speech, Mr. Madison 
erased a word and substituted another ; but 
hesitated, and not feeling satisfied with the 
second word, drew his pen through it also. 
My son was young, ignorant of the world, 
and unconscious of the solecism of which he 
was about to be guilty, when, in all simplic- 
ity,- he suggested a word. Probably no 
other person then living would have taken 
such a liberty. But the sage, instead of 
reoarding such an intrusion with a frown, 
raised his eyes to the boy's face with a 
pleased surprise, and said, ' Thank you, sir ; 
it is the very word,' and immediately in- 
serted it. I saw him the next day, and he 
mentioned the circumstance, with a compli- 
ment on the young critic." 

Mr. Madison died at Montpelier, June 28, 
1836, at the advanced age of eighty-five. 
While not possessing the highest order of 
talent, and deficient in oratorical powers, 
he was pre-eminently a statesman, of a well- 
balanced mind. His attainments were solid, 
his knowledge copious, his judgment gener- 
ally sound, his powers of anal3-sis and logi- 
cal statement rarely surpassed, his language 
and literary style correct and polished, his 
conversation witty, his temperament san- 
guine and trusfful, his integrity unques- 
tioned, his manners simple, courteous and 
winning. By these rare qualities he con- 
ciliated the esteem not only of friend*, but 
of political opponents, in a greater degree 
than any x\merican statesman in the present 
century. 

Mrs. Madison survived her husband thir- 
teen 3 cars, and died July 12, 1849, i'^ the 
eighty -second year of her age. She was one 
of the most remarkable women our coun- 
try has produced. Even now she is ad- 
miringly remembered in Washington as 
" Doll}' Madison," and it is fitting that her 
memory should descend to posterity in 
company with thatof the companion of 
her life. 



PJtESIDEXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 






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ir'C^^ y AMES MONROE, the fifth 
President of the United 
States, i8i7-'25,\vasborn 
in Westmoreland County 
Virginia, April 28, 1758. 
He was a son of Spence 
Monroe, and a descendant 
of a Scottish cavalier fam- 
ily. Like all his predeces- 
sors thus far in the Presi- 
dential chair, he enjoyed all 
the advantages of educa- 
tion which the country 
could then afford. He was 
early sent to a fine classical 
school, and at the age of six- 
teen entered William and Mary College.. 
In 1776, when he had been in college but 
two years, the Declaration of Independence 
was adopted, and our feeble militia, with- 
out arms, amunition or clothing, were strug- 
gling against the trained armies of England. 
James Monroe left college, hastened to 
General Washington's headquarters at New 
York and enrolled himself as a cadet in the 
army. 

At Trenton Lieutenant Monroe so dis- 
tinguished himself, receiving a wound in his 
shoulder, that he was promoted to a Cap- 
taincy. Upon recovering from his wound, 
he was invited to act as aide to Lord Ster- 
ling, and in that capacity he took an active 
part in the battles of Brandywine, Ger- 
aiantownand Monmouth. At Germantown 



he stood by the side of Lafayette when the 
French Marquis received his wound. Gen- 
eral Washington, who had formed a high 
idea of young Monroe's ability, sent him to 
Virginia to raise a new regiment, of which 
he was to be Colonel; but so exhausted was 
Virginia at that time that the effort proved 
unsuccessful. He, however, received his 
commission. 

Finding no opportunity to enter the arm\- 
as a commissioned officer, he returned to his 
original plan of studying law, and entered 
the office of Thomas Jefferson, who was 
then Governor of Virginia. He developed 
a very noble character, frank, manly and 
sincere. Mr. Jefferson said of him: 

"James Monroe is so perfectly honest 
that if his soul were turned inside out there 
would not be found a spot on it." 

In 1782 he was elected to the Assembly 
of Virginia, and was also appointed a mem- 
ber of the Executive Council. The next 
year he was chosen delegate to the Conti- 
nental Congress for a term of three years. 
He was present at Annapolis when Wash- 
ington surrendered his commission of Com- 
mander-in-chief. 

With Washington, Jefferson and Madison 
he felt deeply the inefficiency of the old 
Articles of Confederation, and urged the 
formation of a new Constitution, which 
should invest the Central Government with 
something like national power. Influenced 
by these views, he introduced a resolution 



JAMES MONROE. 



3S 



that Congress should be empowered to 
regulate trade, and to lay an impost duty 
of five per cent. The resolution was refer- 
red to a committee of which he was chair- 
man. The report and the discussion which 
rose upon it led to the convention of five 
States at Annapolis, and the consequent 
general convention at Philadelphia, which, 
in 1787, drafted the Constitution of the 
United States. 

At this time there was a controversy be- 
tween New York and Massachusetts in 
reference to their boundaries. The high 
esteem in which Colonel Monroe was held 
is indicated by the fact that he was ap- 
pointed one of the judges to decide the 
controversy. While in New York attend- 
ing Congress, he married Miss Kortright, 
a young lady distinguished alike for her 
beauty and accomplishments. For nearly 
fifty years this happy union remained un- 
broken. In London and in Paris, as in her 
own country, Mrs. Monroe won admiration 
and affection by the loveliness of her per- 
son, the brilliancy of her intellect, and the 
amiability of her character. 

Returning to Virginia, Colonel Monroe 
commenced the practice of law at Freder- 
icksburg. He was very soon elected to a 
seat in the State Legislature, and the next 
year he was chosen a member of the Vir- 
ginia convention which was assembled to 
decide upon the acceptance or rejection of 
the Constitution which had been drawn up 
at Philadelphia, and was now submitted 
to the several States. Deeply as he felt 
the imperfections of the old Confederacy, 
he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
thinking, with man}' others of the Republi- 
can party, that it gave too much power to 
the Central Government, and not enough 
to the individual States. 

\x\ 1789 he became a member of the 
United States Senate, which office he held 
acceptably to his constituents, and with 
honor to himself for four years. 



Having opposed the Constitution as not 
leaving enough power with the States, he, 
of course, became more and more identi- 
fied with the Republican party. Thus he 
found himself in cordial co-operation with 
Jefferson and Madison. The great Repub- 
lican party became the dominant power 
which ruled the land. 

George Washington was then President. 
England had espoused the cause of the 
Bourbons against the principles of the 
French Revolution. President Washing- 
ton issued a proclamation of neutralit}- be- 
tween these contending powers. France 
had helped us in the struggle for our lib- 
erties. All the despotisms of Europe were 
now combined to prevent the French 
from escaping from tyranny a thousandfold 
worse than that which we had endured. 
Colonel Monroe, more magnanimous than 
prvident, was an.xious that we should help 
our old allies in their extremitv. He vio- 
lently opposed the President's procla- 
mation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimitv. 

Washington, who could appreciate such 
a character, developed his calm, serene, 
almost divine greatness bv appointing that 
very James Monroe, who was denouncing 
the polic}- of the Government, as the Minis- 
ter of that Government to the republic of 
France. He was directed b}' Washington 
to express to the French people our warm- 
est sympathy, communicating to them cor- 
responding resolves approved by the Pres- 
ident, and adopted \yy both houses of 
Congress. 

Mr. Monroe was welcomed by the Na- 
tional Convention in France with the most 
enthusiastic demonstrations of respect and 
affection. He was publicly introduced to 
that body, and received the embrace of the 
President, Merlin de Douay, after having 
been addressed in a speech glowing with 
congratulations, and with expressions of 
desire that harmony might ever exist be- 



36 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



tween the two nations. The flags of the 
two republics were intertwined in the hall 
of the convention. Mr. Afonroe presented 
the American colors, and received those of 
France in return. The course which he 
pursued in Paris was so annoying to Eng- 
land and to the friends of England in 
this country that, near the close of Wash- 
ington's administration, Mr. Monroe, was 
recalled. 

After his return Colonel Monroe wrote a 
book of 400 pages, entitled " A View of the 
Conduct of the Executive in Foreign Af- 
fairs." In this work he very ably advo- 
cated his side of the question; but, with 
the magnanimit\- of the man, he recorded a 
warm tribute to the patriotism, ability and 
spotless integrity of John Jay, between 
whom and himself there was intense antag- 
onism ; and in subsequent years he ex- 
pressed in warmest terms his perfect 
veneration for the character of George 
Washington. 

Shortlv after his return to this country 
Colonel Monroe was elected Governor of 
Virginia, and held that office for three 
years, the period limited by the Constitu- 
tion. In 1802 he was an Envoy to France, 
and to Spain in 1805, and was Minister to 
England in 1803. In 1806 he returned to 
his quiet home in Virginia, and with his 
wife and children and an ample competence 
from his paternal estate, enjoyed a few years 
of domestic repose. 

In 1809 Mr. Jefferson's second term of 
office expired, and many of the Republican 
party were anxious to nominate James 
Monroe as his successor. The majority 
were in favor of Mr. Madison. Mr. Mon- 
roe withdrew his name and was soon after 
chosen a second time Governor of Virginia. 
He soon resigned that office to accept the 
position of Secretary of State, offered him 
by President Madison.- The correspond- 
ence which he then carried on with the 
British Government demonstrated that 



there was no hope of any peaceful adjust- 
ment of our difficulties with the cabinet of 
St. James. War was consequently declared 
in June, 1812. Immediately after the sack 
of Washington the Secretary of War re- 
signed, and Mr. Monroe, at the earnest 
request of Mr. Madison, assumed the ad- 
ditional duties of the War Department, 
without resigning his position as Secretary 
of State. It has been confidently stated, 
that, had Mr. Monroe's energies been in the 
War Department a few months earlier, the 
disaster at Washington would not have 
occurred. 

The duties now devolving upon Mr. Mon- 
roe were extremely arduous. Ten thou- 
sand men, picked from the veteran armies 
of England, were sent with a powerful fleet 
to New Orleans to acquire possession of 
the mouths of the Mississippi. Our finan- 
ces were in the most deplorable condition. 
The treasury was exhausted and our credit 
gone. And ^et it was necessary to make 
the most rigorous preparations to meet the 
foe. In this crisis James Monroe, the Sec- 
retary of War, with virtue unsurpassed in 
Greek or Roman story, stepped forward 
and pledged his own individual credit as 
subsidiary to that of the nation, and thus 
succeeded in placing the city of New Or- 
leans in such a posture of defense, that it 
was enabled successfully to repel the in- 
vader. 

Mr. Monroe was truly tlic annor-bcarer 
of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. His energy 
in the dmible capacity of Secretary, both 
of State and War, pervaded all the depart- 
ments of the country. He proposed to 
increase the arm}- to 100,000 men, a meas- 
ure which he deemed absolutely necessary 
to save us from ignominious defeat, but 
which, at the same time, he knew would 
render his name so unpopular as to preclude 
the possibilit}' of his being a successful can- 
didate for the Presidency. 



JAMES MONROE. 



37 



The happy result of the conference at 
Ghent in securing peace rendered the in- 
crease of the army unnecessary; but it is not 
too much to say that James Monroe placed 
in the hands of Andrew Jackson the 
weapon with which to beat off the foe at 
New Orleans. Upon the return of peace 
Mr. Monroe resigned the department of 
war, devoting himself entirely to the duties 
of Secretary of State. These he continued 
to discharge until the close of President 
Madison's administration, with zeal which 
was never abated, and with an ardor of 
self-devotion which made him almost for- 
getful of the claims of fortune, health or 
life. 

Mr. Madison's second term expired in 
March, 1817, and Mr. Monroe succeeded 
to the Presidency. He was a candidate of 
the Republican party, now taking the name 
of the Democratic Republican. In 1821 he 
was re-elected, with scarcely any opposition. 
Out of 232 electoral votes, he received 231. 
The slavery question, which subsequently 
assumed such formidable dimensions, now 
began to make its appearance. The State 
of Missouri, which had been carved out of 
that immense territory which we had pur- 
chased of France, applied for admission to 
the Union, with a slavery Constitution. 
There were not a few who foresaw the 
evils impending. After the debate of a 
week it was decided that Missouri could 
not be admitted into the Union with slav- 
er}'. This important question was at length 
settled bv a compromise proposed by 
Henry Clay. 

The famous "Monroe Doctrine," of which 
so much has been said, originated in this 
way: In 1823 it was rumored that the 
Holy Alliance was about to interfere to 
prevent the establishment of Republican 
liberty in the European colonies of South 
America. President Monroe wrote to his 
old friend Thomas Jefferson for advice in 
the emergency. In his reply under date of 



October 24, Mr. Jefferson writes upon the 
supposition that our attempt to resist this 
European movement might lead to war: 

" Its object is to introduce and establish 
the American system of keeping out of our 
land all foreign powers; of never permitting 
those of Europe to intermeddle with the 
affairs of our nation. It is to maintain our 
own principle, not to depart from it." 

December 2, 1823, President Monroe 
sent a message to Congress, declaring it to 
be the policy of this Government not to 
entangle ourselves with the broils of Eu- 
rope, and not to allow Europe to interfere 
with the affairs of nations on the American 
continent; and the doctrine was announced, 
that any attempt on the part of the Euro- 
pean powers " to extend their system to 
any portion of this hemisphere would be 
regarded by the United States as danger- 
ous to our peace and safety." 

March 4, 1825, Mr. Monroe surrendered 
the presidential chair to his Secretary of 
State, John Ouincy Adams, and retired, 
with the universal respect of the nation, 
to his private residence at Oak Hill, Lou- 
doun County, Virginia. His time had been 
so entirel}- consecrated to his country, that 
he had neglected his pecuniary interests, 
and was deeply involved in debt. The 
welfare of his country had ever been up- 
permost in his mind. 

For man\' years Mrs. Monroe was in such 
feeble health that she rarely appeared in 
public. In 1830 Mr. Monroe took up his 
residence with his son-in-law in New York, 
where he died on the 4th of July, 183 1. 
The citizens of New York conducted his 
obsequies with pageants more imposing 
than had ever been witnessed there before. 
Our country will ever cherish his mem- 
ory with pride, gratefully enrolling his 
name in the list of its benefactors, pronounc- 
ing him the worthy successor of the illus- 
trious men who had preceded him in the 
presidential chair^ 



38 



PKESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



iHSaHHaHd! r! H r' ?FF?^??aH 









'Si(x^i}d~. .^ ^ ^^ .^ 



HSHHHI 



JaffiiQ Qminof Adam 



'ii^m^m^r 



''■:\,^r;j^C,;^^/^^,.; ^' 







,$m 




'I'^OHN QUINCY ADAMS, 

''3: 



the sixth President of the 
United States, i825-'9, 
was born in the rural 
home of his honored 
father, John Adams, in 
Q u i n c y , Massachusetts, 
July II, 1767. Hismother, 
a woman of exalted worth, 
watclied over his childhood 
during the almost constant 
absence of his father. He 
commenced his education 
at the village school, giving 
at an early period indica- 
tions of superior mental en- 
dowments. 

When eleven years of age he sailed with 
his father for Europe, wiiere the latter was 
associated with Franklin and Lee as Minister 
Plenipotentiary. The intelligence of John 
Quincy attracted the attention of these men 
and received from them flattering marks of 
attention. Mr. Adams had scarcely returned 
to this country in 1779 ere he was again 
sent abroad, and John Quincy again accom- 
panied him. On this voyage he commenced 
a diary, which practice he continued, with 
but few interruptions, until his death. He 
journeyed with his father from Ferrol, in 
Spain, to Paris. Here he applied himself 
for six months to study; then accompanied 



liis father to Holland, where he entered, 
first a school in Amsterdam, and then the 
University of Leyden. In 1781, when only 
fourteen years of age, he was selected by 
Mr. Dana, our Minister to the Russian 
court, as his private secretary. In this 
school of incessant labor he spent fourteen 
months, and then returned alone to Holland 
through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. Again he resumed his studies 
under a private tutor, at The Hague. 

In the spring of 1782 he accompanied liis 
father to Paris, forming acquaintance with 
the most distinguished men on the Conti- 
nent. After a short visit to England, he re- 
turned to Paris and studied until May, 
1785, when he returned to America, leav- 
ing his father an embassador at the court 
of St. James. In 1786 he entered the jun- 
ior class in Harvard University, and grad- 
uated with the second honor of his class. 
The oration he delivered on this occasion, 
the " Importance of Public Faith to the 
Well-being of a Community," was pub- 
lished — an event very rare in this or any 
other land. 

Upon leaving college at the age of twenty 
he studied law three years with tlie Hon. 
Theophilus Parsons in Newburyport. In 
1790 he opened a law office in Boston. The 
profession was crowded with able men, and 
the fees were small. The first year he had 




Ui W . iJ^i. 



CUVyy^ 



JOHN ^UINCr ADAMS. 



no clients, but not a moment was lost. The 
second year passed away, still no clients, 
and still he was dependent upon his parents, 
for support. Anxiously he awaited the 
third year. The reward now came. Cli- 
ents began to enter his office, and before 
the end of the year he was so crowded 
with business that all solicitude respecting 
a support was at an end. 

When Great Britain commenced war 
against France, in 1793, Mr. Adams wrote 
some articles, urging entire neutrality on 
the part of the United States. The view 
was not a popular one. Many felt that as 
France had helped us, we were bound to 
help France. But President Washington 
coincided with Mr. Adams, and issued his 
proclamation of neutrality. His writings 
at this time in the Boston journals gave 
him so high a reputation, that in June, 
1794, he was appointed by Washington 
resident Minister at the Netherlands. In 
July, 1797, he left The Hague to go to Port- 
ugal as Minister Plenipotentiary. Wash- 
ington at this time wrote to his father, John 
Adams: 

" Without intending to compliment the 
father or the mother, or to censure any 
others, I give it as m}- decided opinion, 
that Mr. Adams is the most valuable char- 
acter we have abroad; and there remains 
no doubt in m)' mind that he will prove the 
ablest of our diplomatic corps." 

On his way to Portugal, upon his arrival 
in London, he met with dispatches direct- 
ing him to the court of Berlin, but request- 
ing him to remain in London until he should 
receive instructions. While waiting he 
was married to Miss Louisa Catherine John- 
son, to whom he had been previously en- 
gaged. Miss Johnson was a daughter of 
Mr. Joshua Johnson, American Consul 
in London, and was a lady endowed with 
that beauty and those accomplishments 
which fitted her to move in the elevated 
sphere for which she was destined. 



In July, 1799, having fulfilled all the pur- 
poses of his mission, Mr. Adams returned. 
In 1802 he was chosen to the Senate of 
Massachusetts from Boston, and then was 
elected Senator of the United States for six 
years from March 4, 1804. His reputation, 
his ability and his experience, placed him 
immediately among the most prominent 
and influential members of that body. He 
sustained the Government in its measures 
of resistance to the encrcjachments of Eng- 
land, destroying our commerce and insult- 
ing our flag. There was no man in America 
more familiar with the arrogance of the 
British court upon these points, and no 
one more resolved to present a firm resist- 
ance. This course, so truly patriotic, and 
which scarcely a voice will now be found 
to condemn, alienated him from the Fed- 
eral party dominant in Boston, and sub- 
jected him to censure. 

In 1805 Mr. Adams was chosen professor 
of rhetoric in Harvard College. His lect- 
ures at this place were subsequently pub- 
lished. In 1809 he was sent as Minister to 
Russia. He was one of the commissioners 
that negotiated the treaty of peace with 
Great Britain, signed December 24, 18 14, 
and he was appointed Minister to the court 
of St. James in 1815. In 1817 he became 
Secretary of State in Mr. Monroe's cabinet 
in which position he remained eight years. 
Few will now contradict the assertion that 
the duties of that office were never more 
ably discharged. Probably the most im- 
portant measure which Mr. Adams con- 
ducted was the purchase of Florida from 
Spain for $5,000,000. 

The campaign of 1824 was an exciting 
one. Four candidates were in the field. 
Of the 260 electoral votes that were cast, 
Andrew Jackson received ninety-nine; John 
Quincy Adams, eighty-four; William H. 
Crawford, forty-one, and Henry Clay, 
thirty-seven. As there was no choice by 
the people, the question went to the House 



*> 



PliES/DENTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



of Representatives. Mr. Clay gave the 
vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and fie 
was elected. 

Tfic friends of all disappointed candidates 
now combined in a x'enomous assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more dis- 
graceful in the past history of our country 
than the abuse which was poured in one 
uninterrupted stream upon this high- 
minded, upright, j^atriotic man. There was 
never an administration more pure in prin- 
ciples, more conscientiously devoted to the 
best interests of the country, than that of 
John Quincy Adams; and never, perhaps, 
was there an administration more unscru- 
pulously assailed. Mr. Adams took his seat 
in the presidential chair resolved not to 
know any partisanship, but only to con- 
sult for the interests of the whole Republic, 

He refused to dismiss an}^ man from of- 
fice for his political views. If he was a faith- 
ful officer that was enough. Bitter must 
have been his disappointment to find that the 
Nation could not appreciate such conduct. 

Mr. Adams, in his public manners, was 
cold and repulsive; though with his per- 
sonal friends he was at times very genial. 
This chilling address very seriously de- 
tracted from his popularity. No one can 
read an impartial record of his administra- 
tion without admitting that a more noble 
example of uncompromising dignity can 
scarcely be found. It was stated publicly 
that Mr. Adams' administration was to be 
put down, " though it be as pure as the an- 
gels which stand at the right hand of the 
throne of God." Many of the active par- 
ticipants in these scenes lived to regret the 
course they pursued. Some years after, 
Warren R. Davis, of South Carolina, turn- 
ing to Mr. Adams, then a member of the 
House of I^epresentatives, said: 

" Well do I remember the enthusiastic 
zeal with which we reproached the admin- 
istration of that gentleman, and the ardor 
and vehemence with which wc labored to 



bring in another. For the share I had in 
these transactions, and it was not a small 
one, I hope God will forgive vie, for I shall 
7iever forgive myself. 

March 4, 1829, Mr. Adams retired from 
the Presidency and was succeeded by An- 
drew Jackson, the latter receiving 168 out 
of 261 electoral votes. John C. Calhoun 
was elected Vice-President. The slavery 
question now began to assume pretentious 
magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy, and pursued his studies with una- 
bated zeal. But he was not long permitted 
to remain in retirement. In N )vcmber, 
1830, he was elected to Congress. In this 
he recognized the principle that it is honor- 
able for the General of yesterday to act as 
Corporal to-day, if by so doing he can ren- 
der service to his countr}'. Deep as are 
our obligations to John Quincy Adams for 
his services as embassador, as Secretary of 
State and as President; in his capacity as 
legislator in the House of Representa- 
tives, he conferred benefits upon our land 
which eclipsed all the rest, and which can 
never be over-estimated. 

For seventeen years, until his death, he 
occupied the post of Representative, tow- 
ering above all his peers, ever ready to do 
brave battle for freedom, and winning the 
title of " the old man eloquent." Upon 
taking his seat in the House he announced 
that he should hold himself bound to no 
party. He was usually the first in his 
place in the morning, and the last to leave 
his seat in the evening. Not a measure 
could escape his scrutiny. The battle 
which he fought, almost singly, against the 
pro-slavery party in the Government, was 
sublime in its moral daring and heroism. 
For persisting in presenting petitions for 
the abolition of slavery, he was threatened 
with indictment by the Grand Jury, with 
expulsion from the House, with assassina- 
tion; but no threats could intimidate him, 
and his final triumph was complete. 



JOHN ^UINCr ADAMS. 



43 



On one occasion Mr. Adams presented a 
petition, signed by several women, against 
tlie annexation of Texas for the purpose of 
cutting it up into slave States. Mr. How- 
ard, of Maryland, said that these women 
discredited not only themselves, but their 
section of the country, by turning from 
their domestic duties to the conflicts of po- 
litical life. 

"Are women," exclaimed Mr. Adams, 
" to have no opinions or actions on subjects 
relating to the general welfare? Where 
did the gentleman get his principle? Did 
he find it in sacred history, — in the language 
of Miriam, the pr<:)phetess, in one of the 
noblest and sublime songs of triumph that 
ever met the human eye or ear? Did the 
gentleman never hear of Deborah, to whom 
the children of Israel came up for judg- 
ment ? Has he forgotten the deed of Jael, 
who slew the dreaded enemy of her coun- 
try ? Has he forgotten Esther, who, by her 
petition saved her people and her coun- 
try? 

" To go from sacred history to profane, 
does the gentleman there find it 'discredita- 
ble ' for women to take an interest in politi- 
cal affairs? Has he forgotten the Spartan 
mother, who said to her son when going 
out to battle, ' My son, come back to me 
zvith th}' shield, or jipon thy shield?' Does 
he remember Cloelia and her hundred com- 
panions, who swam across the river unt"'er 
a shower of darts, escaping from Porsena ? 
Has he forgotten Cornelia, the mother of 
the Gracchi ? Does he not remember Por- 
tia, the wife of Brutus and the daughter of 
Cato ? 

" To come to later periods, what says the 
history of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors ? 
To say nothing of Boadicea, the British 
heroine in the time of the Caesars, what 
name is more illustrious than that of Eliza- 
beth ? Or, if he will go to the continent, 
will he not find the names of Maria Theresa 
of Hungary, of the two Catherines of 



Prussia, and of Isabella of Castile, the pa- 
troness of Columbus ? Did she bring ' dis- 
credit ' on her sex by mingling in politics ? " 

In this glowing strain Mr. Adams si- 
lenced and overwhelmed his antagonists. 

In January, 1842, Mr. Adams presented 
a petition from forty-five citizens of Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts, praying for a peaceable 
dissolution of the Union. The pro-slavery 
party in Congress, who were then plotting 
the destruction of the Government, were 
aroused to a pretense of commotion such as 
even our stormy hall of legislation has 
rarely witnessed. They met in caucus, and, 
finding that they probably would not be 
able to expel Mr. Adams from the House 
drew up a series of resolutions, which, if 
adopted, would inflict upon him disgrace, 
equivalent to expulsion. Mr. Adams had 
presented the petition, which was most re- 
spectfully worded, and had moved that it be 
referred to a committee instructed to re- 
port an answer, showing the reason why 
the prayer ought not to be granted. 

It was the 25th of' January. The whole 
body of the pro-slavery party came crowd- 
ing together in the House, prepared to 
crush Mr. Adams forever. One of the num- 
ber, Thomas F. Marshall, of Kentucky, was 
appointed to read the resolutions, which 
accused Mr. Adams of high treason, of 
having insulted the Government, and of 
meriting expulsion; but for which deserved 
punishment, the House, in its great mercy, 
would substitute its severest censure. With 
the assumption of a very solemn and mag- 
isterial air, there being breathless silence in 
the audience, Mr. Marshall hurled the care- 
fully prepared anathemas at his victim. 
Mr. Adams stood alone, the whole pro-slav- 
ery party against him. 

As soon as the resolutions were read, 
every eye being fixed upon him, that bold 
old man, whose scattered locks were whit- 
ened by seventy-five years, casting a wither- 
ing glance in the direction of his assailants, 



44 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



in :i clear, slirill tone, trcmuloiis with sup- 
pressed emotion, said: 

" In reply to this audacious, atrocious 
charije of liig'h treason, I call for the read- 
ing of the first paragraj)h of the Declaration 
of Independence. Read it ! Read it ! and 
see what that says of the rights of a people 
to reform, to change, and to dissolve their 
Government.' 

The attitude, the manner, the tone, the 
words; the venerable old man, with flash- 
ing eye and flushed cheek, and whose very 
form seemed to expand under the inspiration 
of the occasion — all presented a scene over- 
flowing in its sublimity. There was breath- 
less silence as that paragraph was read, in 
defense of whose principles our fathers had 
pledged their lives, their fortunes and their 
sacred honor. It was a proud hour to Mr. 
Adams as thev were all compelled to listen 
to the words: 

" That, to secure these rights, govern- 
ments are instituted among men, deriving 
their just powers fn^m the consent of the 
governed; and that whenever any form of 
government becomes destructive of those 
ends, it is the right of the people to alter or 
abolish it, and to institute new government, 
laying its foundations on such principles 
and organizing its powers in such form 
as shall seem most likely to effect their 
safety and happiness." 

That one sentence routed and baffled the 



foe. The heroic old man looked around 
upon the audience, and thundered out, 
" Read that again!" It was again read. 
Then in a few fiery, logical words he stated 
his defense in terms which even prejudiced 
minds could not resist. His discomfited 
assailants made several attempts to rally. 
After a conflict of eleven days they gave 
up vanquished and their resolution was ig- 
nominiously laid upon the table. 

In January, 1846, when seventy-eight 
years of age, he took part in the great de- 
bate on the Oregon question, displaying 
intellectual vigor, and an extent and accu- 
racy of acquaintance with the subject that 
excited great admiration. 

On the 2 1 St of February, 1848, he rose on 
the floor of Congress with a paper in his 
hand to address the Speaker. Suddenly 
he fell, stricken by paralysis, and was caught 
in the arms of those around him. For a 
time he was senseless and was conveyed 
to a sofa in the rotunda. With reviving 
consciousness he opened his eyes, looked 
calmly around and said, " This is the end of 
earth." Then after a moment's pause, he 
added, " I am content." These were his last 
words, and he soon breathed his last, in the 
apartment beneath the dome of the capitol 
— the theater of his labors and his triumphs. 
In the language of hymnology, he " died at 
his post;" he " ceased at once to work and 
live." 



ANDREW JACKSON. 



47 






4- 



g^ gfe «n n^f 



I fi'MjD'B*EM;3ffiCSK.SieWI 






( •■ 

^^M 



•^ ^ 







^m 



NDREW JACKSON, 

the seventh President 
of the United States, 
i829-'37, was born at 
the Waxhaw Settle, 
ment, Union Coun- 
ty, North Carolina, 
[arch i6, 1767. His parents 
;ere Scotch-Irish, natives of 
^arrickfergus, who came to 
Lmerica in 1765, and settled 
Twelve-Mile Creek, a trib- 
utary of the Catawba. His 
father, who was a poor farm 
laborer, died shortly before An- 
drew's birth, when his mother removed to 
Waxhaw, where some relatives resided. 

Few particulars of the childhood of Jack- 
son have been preserved. His education 
was of the most limited kind, and he showed 
no fondness for books. He grew up to be a 
tall, lank boy, with coarse hair and freck- 
led cheeks, with bare feet dangling from 
trousers too short for him, very fond of ath- 
letic sports, running, boxing and wrestling. 
He was generous to the younger and 
weaker boj's, but very irascible and over- 
bearing with his equals and superiors. He 
was profane — a vice in which he surpassed 
all other men. The character of his mother 



he revered; and it was not until after her 
death that his predominant vices gained 
full strength. 

- In 1780, at the age of thirteen, Andrew, 
or Andy, as he was called, with his brother 
Robert, volunteered to serve in the Revo- 
lutionary forces under General Sumter, and 
was a witness of the latter's defeat at Hang- 
ing Rock. In the following )-ear the 
brothers were made prisoners, and confined 
in Camden, experiencing brutal treatment 
from their captors, and being spectators of 
General Green's defeat at Hobkirk Hill. 
Through their mother's exertions the boys 
were exchanged while suffering from small- 
pox. In two days Robert was dead, and 
Andy apparently dying. The strength of 
his constitution triumphed, and he regained 
health and vigor. 

As he was getting better, his mother 
heard the cry of anguish from the prison- 
ers whom the British held in Charleston, 
among whom were the sons of her sisters. 
She hastened to their relief, was attacked 
by fever, died and was buried where her 
grave could never be found. Thus Andrew 
Jackson, when fourteen years of age, was 
left alone in the world, without father, 
mother, sister or brother, and without one 
dollar which he could call his own. He 



48 



PlfBSfDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



soon entered a saddler's shop, and labored 
diligently for six months. But gradually, 
as health returned, he became more and 
more a wild, reckless, lawless boy. He 
gambled, drank and was regarded as about 
the worst character that could be found. 

He now turned schoolmaster. He could 
teach the alphabet, perhaps the multiplica- 
tion table; and as he was a very bold boy, 
it is possible he might have ventured to 
teach a little writing. But he soon began to 
think of a profession and decided to study 
law. With a very slender purse, and on 
the back of a very fine horse, he set out 
for Salisbury, North Carolina, where he 
entered the law office of Mr. McCay. 
Here he remained two years, professedly 
studying law. He is still remembered in 
traditions of Salisbury, which say: 

" Andrew Jackson was the most roaring, 
rollicking, horse-racing, card-playing, mis- 
chievous fellow that ever lived in Salisbury. 
He did not trouble the law-books much." 

Andrew was now, at the age of twenty, 
a tall young man, being over six feet in 
height. He was slender, remarkably grace- 
ful and dignified in his manners, an exquis- 
ite horseman, and developed, amidst his 



traversed the almost pathless forest between 
Nashville and Jonesborough, a distance of 
200 miles, twent3'-two times. Hostile In- 
dians were constantly on the watch, and a 
man was liable at any moment to be shot 
down in his own field. Andrew Jackson 
was just the man for this service — a wild, 
daring, rough backwoodsman. Daily he 
made hair-breadth escapes. He seemed to 
bear a charmed life. Boldly, alone or with 
few companions, he traversed the forests, 
encountering all perils and triumphing 
over all. 

In 1790 Tennessee became a Territory, 
and Jackson was appointed, by President 
Washington, United States Attorney for 
the new district. In 1791 he married Mrs. 
Rachel Robards (daughter of Colonel John 
Donelson), whom he supposed to have been 
divorced in that year by an act of the Leg- 
islature of Virginia. Two years after this 
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson learned, to their 
great surprise, that Mr. Robards had just 
obtained a divorce in one of the courts of 
Kentuck}-, and that the act of the Virginia 
Legislature was not final, but conditional. 
To remedy the irregularity as much as pos- 
sible, a new license was obtained and the 



loathesome profanity and multiform vices, a marriage ceremony was again performed 
vein of rare magnanimity. His temper was 
fiery in the extreme; but it was said of him 
that no man knew better than Andrew 
Jackson when to get angry and when not. 

In 1786 he was admitted to the bar, and 
two years later removed to Nashville, 
in what was then the western district of 
North Carolina, with the appointment of so- 
licitor, or public prosecutor. It was an of- 
fice of little honor, small emolument and 
great peril. Few men could be found to 
accept it. 

And now Andrew Jackson commenced 
vigorously to practice law. It was an im- 
portant part of his business to collect debts. 
It required nerve. During the first seven 
years of his residence in those wilds he 



It proved to be a marriage of rare felic- 
ity. Probably there never was a more 
affectionate union. However rough Mr. 
Jackson might have been abroad, he was 
alwa3'S gentle and tender at home; and 
through all the vicissitudes of their lives, he 
treated Mrs. Jackson wil;h the most chival- 
ric attention. 

Under the circumstances it was not un- 
natural that the facts in the case of this 
marriage were so misrepresented bv oppo- 
nents in the political campaigns a quarter 
or a century later as to become the basis 
of serious charges against Jackson's moral- 
ity which, however, have been satisfactorily 
attested by abundant evidence. 

Jackson was untiring in his duties as 



A.VUtih \r JACKSO V. 



49 



United States Attorney, which demanded 
frequent journeys through the wilderness 
and exposed him to Indian hostilities. He 
acquired considerable property in land, and 
obtained such influence as to be chosen 
a member of the convention which framed 
the Constitution for the new State of Ten- 
nessee, in 1796, and in that year was elected 
its first Representative in Congress. Albert 
Gallatin thus describes the first appearance 
of the Hon. Andrew Jackson in the House: 

" A tall, lank, uncouth-looking personage, 
with locks of hair hanging over his face and 
a cue down his back, tied with an eel skin; 
his dress singular, his manners and deport- 
ment those of a rough backwoodsman." 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the 
Democratic party. Jefferson was his idol. 
He admired Bonaparte, loved France and 
hated England. As Mr. Jackson took his 
seat, General Washington, whose second 
term of office was just expiring, delivered 
his last speech to Congress. A committee 
drew up a complimentary address in reply. 
Andrew Jackson did not approve the ad- 
dress and was one of twelve who voted 
against it. 

Tennessee had fitted out an expedition 
against the Indians, contrary to the policy 
of the Government. A resolution was intro- 
duced that the National Government 
should pa\' the expenses. Jackson advo- 
cated it and it was carried. This rendered 
him very popular in Tennessee. A va- 
cancy chanced soon after to occur in the 
Senate, and Andrew Jackson was chosen 
United States Senator by the State of Ten- 
nessee. John Adams was then President 
and Thomas Jefferson, Vice-President. 

In 1798 Mr. Jackson returned to Tennes- 
see, and resigned his seat in the Senate. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Su- 
preme Court of that State, with a salary of 
$600. This office he held six years. It is 
said that his decisions, though sometimes 
ungrammatical, were generally right. He 



did not enjoy his seat upon the bench, and 
renounced the dignity in 1804. About 
this time he was chosen Major-General of 
militia, and lost the title of judge in that of 
General. 

When he retired from the Senate Cham- 
ber, he decided to try his fortune through 
trade. He purchased a stock of goods in 
Philadelphia and sent them to Nashville, 
where he opened a store. He lived about 
thirteen miles from Nashville, on a tract of 
land of several thousand acres, mostly un- 
cultivated. He used a small block-house 
for a store, from a narrow window of 
which he sold goods to the Indians. As he 
had an assistant his office as judge did not 
materially interfere with his business. 

As to slavery, born in the midst of it. the 
idea never seemed to enter his mind that it 
could be wrong. He eventually became 
an extensive slave owner, but he was one of 
the most humane and gentle of masters. 

In 1804 Mr. Jackson withdrew from pol- 
itics and settled on a plantation which he 
called the Hermitage, near Nashville. He 
set up a cotton-gin, formed a partnership 
and traded in New Orleans, making the 
voyage on flatboats. Through his hot tem- 
per he became involved in several quarrels 
and "affairs of honor," during this period, 
in one of which he was severely wounded, 
but had the misfortune to kill his opponent, 
Charles Dickinson. For a time this affair 
greatly injured General Jackson's popular- 
ity. The verdict then was, and continues 
to be, that General Jackson was outra- 
geously wrong. If hesubsequentl}' felt any 
remorse he never revealed it to anyone. 

In 1805 Aaron Burr had visited Nash- 
ville and been a guest of Jackson, with 
whom he corresponded on the subject of a 
war with Spain, which was anticipated and 
desired by them, as well as by the people 
of the Southwest generally. 

Burr repeated his visit in September, 
1806, when he engaged in the celebrated 



5° 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



combinations which led to his trial for trea- 
son. He was warmly received by Jackson, 
at whose instance a public ball was given 
in his honor at Nasiiville, and contracted 
with the latter for boats and provisions. 
Earlv in 1807, when Burr had been pro- 
claimed a traitor by President Jefferson, 
volunteer forces for the Federal service 
were organized at Nashville under Jack- 
son's command; but his energj' and activ- 
ity did not shield him from suspicions of 
connivance in the supposed treason. He 
was summoned to Richmond as a witness 
in Burr's trial, but was not called to the 
stand, probably because he was out-spoken 
in his partisanship. 

On the outbreak of the war with Great 
Britain in 181 2, Jackson tendered his serv- 
ices, and in January, 181 3, embarked for 
New Orleans at the head of the Tennessee 
contingent. In March he received an or- 
der to disband his forces; but in Septem- 
ber he again took the field, in the Creek 
war, and in conjunction with his former 
partner. Colonel Coffee, inflicted upon the 
Indians the memorable defeat at Talladega, 
Emuckfaw and Tallapoosa. 

In Ma\ , 1814, Jackson, who had now ac- 
quired a national reputation, was appointed 
a Major-Generalof the United States army, 
and commenced a campaign against the 
British in Florida. He conducted the de- 
fense at Mobile, September 15, seized upon 
Pensacola, November 6, and immediately 
transported the bulk of his troops to New 
Orleans, then threatened by a powerful 
naval force. Martial law was declared in 
Louisiana, the State militia was called to 
arms, engagements with the British were 
fought December 23 and 28, and after re-en- 
forcements had been received on both sides 
the famous victory of January 8, 181 5, 
crowned Jackson's fame as a soldier, and 
made him the typical American hero of 
the first half of the nineteenth century. 

In 1 817-'! 8 Jackson conducted the war 



against the Seminoles of Florida, during 
which he seized upon Pensacola and exe- 
cuted by courtraartial two British subjects, 

Arbuthnot and Ambrister acts which 

might easily have involved the United 
States in war both with Spain and Great 
Britain. Fortunately the peril was averted 
by the cession of Florida to the United 
States; and Jackson, who had escaped a 
trial for the irregularity of his conduct 
only through a division of opinion in Mon- 
roe's cabinet, was appointed in 1821 Gov- 
ernor of the new Territory. Soon after he 
declined the appointment of minister to 
Mexico. 

In 1823 Jackson was elected to the United 
States Senate, and nominated by the Ten- 
nessee Legislature for the Presidency. This 
candidacy, though a matter of surprise, and 
even merrvment, speedily became popular, 
and in 1824, when the stormy electoral can- 
vas resulted in the choice of John Quincy 
Adams by the House of Representatives, 
General Jackson received the largest popu- 
lar vote among the four candidates. 

In 1828 Jackson was triumphantly elected 
President over Adams after a campaign of 
unparalleled bitterness. He was inaugu- 
rated Marcli 4, 1829, and at once remcived 
from office all the incumbents belonging to 
the opposite party — a procedure new to 
American politics, but which naturally be- 
came a precedent. 

His first term was characterized by quar- 
rels between the Vice-President, Calhoun, 
and the Secretary of State, Van Buren, at- 
tended by a cabinet crisis originating in 
scandals connected with the name of Mrs. 
General Eaton, wife of the Secretary of 
War; by the beginning of his war u])on the 
United States Bank, and by his vigorous 
action against the partisans of Calhoun, 
who, in South Carolina, threatened to 
nullify the acts of Congress, establishing a 
protective tariff. 

In the Presidential campaign of 1832 



ANDREW JACKSON. 



51 



Jackson received 219 out of 288 electoral 
votes, his competitor being Mr. Clay, while 
Mr. Wirt, on an Anti-Masonic platform, 
received the vote of Vermont alone. In 
1833 President Jackson removed the Gov- 
ernment deposits from the United States 
bank, thereby incurring a vote of censure 
from the Senate, which was, however, ex- 
punged four years later. During this second 
term of office the Cherokees, Choctaws and 
Creeks were removed, not without diffi- 
culty, from Georgia, Alabama and Missis- 
sippi, to the Indian Territory; the National 
debt was extinguished; Arkansas and 
Michigan were admitted as States to the 
Union; the Seminole war was renewed; the 
anti-slavery agitation first acquired impor- 
tance; the Mormon delusion, which had 
organized in 1829, attained considerable 
proportions in Ohio and Missouri, and the 
country experienced its greatest pecuniary 
panic. 

Railroads with locomotive propulsion 
were introduced into America during Jack- 
son's first term, and had become an impor- 
tant element of national life before the 
close of his second term. For many rea- 
sons, therefore, the administration of Presi- 
dent Jackson formed an era in American 
history, political, social and industrial. 
He succeeded in effecting the election of 



his friend Van Buren as his successor, re- 
tired from the Presidency March 4, 1837, 
and led a tranquil life at the Hermitage 
until his death, which occurred June 8, 
1845. _ 

During his closing years he was a pro- 
fessed Christian and a member of the Pres- 
byterian church. No American of this 
century has been the subject of such oppo- 
site judgments. He was loved and hated 
with equal vehemence during his life, but 
at the present distance of time from his 
career, while opinions still vary as to the 
merits of his public acts, few of his country- 
men will question that he was a warm- 
hearted, brave, patriotic, honest and sincere 
man. If his distinguishing qualities were 
not such as constitute statesmanship, in the 
highest sense, he at least never pretended 
to other merits than such as were written 
to his credit on the page of American his- 
tory — not attempting to disguise the de- 
merits which were equally legible. The 
majority of his countrymen accepted and 
honored him, in spite of all that calumny 
as well as truth could allege against him. 
His faults may therefore be truly said to 
have been those of his time; his magnifi- 
cent virtues may also, with the same jus- 
tice, be considered as typical of a state of 
society which has nearly passed away. 



52 



PRESIDENTS OF THE U.XITED STATES. 







|| ^^^OQai^tin Uan Bui^en.<^^|| 



i^agj-^^^F^iiagjg^T^ j;.^a"afc.:g!t^-it'33jt ^tt'^ssj^s^^^ 






.^^i^^^^^^^^^ 



4|)<&<iia'J&>*Si«^j'iJj4«i^<S§i»^-^'i 



^g 



?LJ 




^'^ 



#«<Pi*% 



ARTIN VAN BU- 

REN, the eighth 
rJ President of the 
United States, 1837- 
'41, was born at Kin- 
derhook, New York, 
December 5, 1782. 
His ancestors were of Dutch 
origin, and were among the 
earHest emigrants from Hol- 
land to the banks of the 
Hudson. His father was a 
tavern-keeper, as well as a 
farmer, and a very decided 
Democrat. 
^ Martin commenced the study 
of law at the age of fourteen, and took an 
active part in politics before he had reached 
the age of twenty. In 1803 he commenced 
the practice of law in his native village. 
In 1809 he removed to Hudson, the shire 
town of his county, where he spent seven 
years, gaining strength by contending in 
the courts with some of the ablest men 
who have adorned the bar of his State. 
The heroic example of John Quincy Adams 
in retaining in ofifice every faithful man, 
without regard to his political preferences, 
had been thoroughly repudiated by Gen- 
eral Jackson. The unfortunate principle 
was now fully established, that " to the 
victor belong the spoils." Still, this prin- 
ciple, to which Mr. Van Buren gave his ad- 



herence, was not devoid of inconveniences. 
When, subsequently, he attained power 
which placed vast patronage in his hands, 
he was heard to say : " I prefer an office 
that has no patronage. When I give a man 
an office I offend his disappointed competi- 
tors and their friends. Nor am I certain of 
gaining a friend in the man I appoint, for, 
in all probability, he expected something 
better." 

In 1812 Mr. Van Buren was elected to 
the State Senate. In 181 5 he was appointed 
Attorney-General, and in 1816 to the Senate 
a second time. In 1818 there was a great 
split in the Democratic party in New Ycjrk, 
and Mr. Van Buren took the lead in or- 
ganizing that portion of the party called 
the Albany Regency, which is said to have 
swayed the destinies of the State for a 
quarter of a century. 

In 1 82 1 he was chosen a member of the 
convention for revising the State Constitu- 
tion, in which he advocated an extension of 
the franchise, but opposed universal suf- 
frage, and also favored the proposal that 
colored persons, in order to vote, should 
have freehold property to the amount of 
$250. In this year he was also elected to 
the United States Senate, and at the con- 
clusion of his term, in 1827, was re-elected, 
but resigned the following year, having 
been chosen Governor of the State. In 
March, 1829, he was appointed Secretary of 




O 7 7y^^ ^^^^^^^ 



MARTI X VAS BUREN. 



55 



State by President Jackson, but resigned 
in April, 1831, and during the recess of 
Congress was appointed minister to Eng- 
land, whither he proceeded in September, 
but the Senate, when convened in Decem- 
ber, refused to ratify the appointment. 

In Ma}-, 1832, Mr. Van Buren was nomi- 
nated as the Democratic candidate for Vice- 
President, and elected in the following 
November. May 26, 1836, he received the 
nomination to succeed General Jackson as 
President, and received 170 electoral votes, 
out of 283. 

Scarcely had he taken his seat in the 
Presidential chair when a financial panic 
swept over the land. Manv attributed 
this to the war which General Jackson had 
waged on the banks, and to his endeavor to 
secure an almost exclusive specie currency. 
Nearly every bank in the country was com- 
pelled to suspend specie payment, and ruin 
pervaded all our great cities. Not less than 
254 houses failed in New York in one week. 
All public works were brought to a stand, 
and there was a general state of dismay. 
President Van Buren urged the adoption of 
the independent treasury system, which 
was twice passed in the Senate and defeated 
in the House, but finally became a law near 
the close of his rxlminictration. 

Another important measure was the pass- 
age of a pre-emption law, giving actual set- 
tlers the preference in the purchase of 
public lands. The question of slavery, also, 
now began to assume great prominence in 
national politics, and after an elaborate 
anti-slavery speech by Mr. Slade, of Ver- 
mont, in the House of Representatives, the 
Southern members withdrew for a separate 
consultation, at which Mr. Rhett, of South 
Carolina, proposed to declare it expedient 
that the Union should be dissolved ; but 
the matter was tided over by the passage 
of a resolution that no petitions or papers 
relating to slavery should be in any way 
considered or acted upon. 



In the Presidential election of 1840 Mr. 
Van Buren was nominated, without opposi- 
tion, as the Democratic candidate, William 
H. Harrison being the candidate of the 
Whig party. The Democrats carried only 
seven States, and out of 294 electoral votes 
only sixty were for Mr. Van Buren, the re- 
maining 234 being for his opponent. The 
Whig popular majority, however, was not 
large, the elections in many of the States 
being verv close. 

March 4, 1841, Mr. Van Buren retired 
from the Presidency. From his fine estate 
at Lindenwald he still exerted a powerful 
influence upon the politics of the country. 
In 1844 he was again proposed as the 
Democratic candidate for the Presidency, 
and a majority of the delegates of the 
nominating convention were in his favor ; 
but, owing to his opposition to the pro- 
posed annexation of Texas, he could not 
secure the requisite two-thirds vote. His 
name was at length withdrawn by his 
friends, and Mr. Polk received the nomina- 
tion, and was elected. 

In 1848 Mr. Cass was the regular Demo- 
cratic candidate. A schism, however, 
sprang up in the party, upon the question 
of the permission of slavery in the newly- 
acquired territory, and a portion of the 
party, taking the name of " Free-Soilers," 
nominated Mr. Van Buren. They drew 
away sufficient votes to secure the election 
of General Taylor, the Whig candidate. 
After this Mr. Van Buren retired to his es- 
tate at Kinderhook, where the remainder 
of his life was passed, with the exception of 
a European tour in 1853. He died at 
Kinderhook, July 24, 1862, at the age of 
eighty years. 

Martin Van Buren was a great and good 
man, and no one will question his right to 
a high position among those who have 
been the successors of Washington in the 
faithful occupancy of the Presidential 
chair. 



S6 



PRES/DBNTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




sm^ 






^^ei WILLIflffl HENRY HflRHISDN. ^^^ 












Virginia, 
dence of 



L I A M HENRY 
HARRISON, the 
ninth President of 
the United States, 
I 84 I, was born 
February 9, 1773, 
in Charles County, 
at Berkeley, the resi- 
his father, Governor 
Benjamin Harrison. He studied 
at Hampden, Sidney College, 
with a view of entering the med- 
ical profession. After graduation 
he went to Philadelphia to study 
medicine under the instruction of 
Dr. Rush. 
George Washington was then President 
3f the United States. The Indians were 
committing fearful ravages on our North- 
western frontier. Young Harrison, either 
lured by the love of adventure, or moved 
by the sufferings of families exposed to the 
most horrible outrages, abandoned his med- 
ical studies and entered the army, having 
obtained a commission of ensign from Pres- 
ident Washington. The first duty assigned 
him was to take a train of pack-horses 
bound to Fort Hamilton, on the Miami 
River, about forty miles from Fort Wash- 
ington. He was soon promoted to the 




rank of Lieutenant, and joined the army 
which Washington had placed under the 
command of General Wayne to prosecute 
more vigorously the war with the In- 
dians. Lieutenant Harrison received great 
commendation from his commanding offi- 
cer, and was promoted to the rank of 
Captain, and placed in command at Fort 
Washington, now Cincmnati, Ohio. 

About this time he married a daughter 
of John Cleves Symmes, one of the fron- 
tiersmen who had established a thriving 
settlement on the bank of the Maumee. 

In 1797 Captain Harrison resigned his 
commission in the army and was appointed 
Secretary of the Northwest Territory, and 
ex-officio Lieutenant-Governor, General St. 
Clair being then Governor of the Territory. 
At that time the law in reference to the 
disposal of the public lands was such that 
no one could purcliase in tracts less than 
4,000 acres. Captain Harrison, in the 
face of violent opposition, succeeded in 
obtaining so much of a modification of 
this unjust law that the land was sold in 
alternate tracts of 640 and 320 acres. The 
Northwest Territory was then entitled 
to one delegate in Congress, and Cap- 
tain Harrison was chosen to fill that of- 
fice. In 1800 he was appointed Governor 




^ /^/9c 



(S-^T^^L'-i^^^tn^.,^ 



WILLIAM HENRY HAIUilSON. 



59 



of Indiana Territory and soon after of 
Upper Louisiana. He was also Superin- 
tendent of Indian Affairs, and so well did he 
fulfill these duties that he was four times 
appointed to this office. During his admin- 
istration he effected thirteen treaties with 
the Indians, by which the United States 
acquired 60,000,000 acres of land. In 1804 
he obtained a cession from the Indians of 
all the land between the lUinois River and 
the Mississippi. 

In 18 1 2 he was made Major-General of 
Kentucky militia and Brigadier-General 
in the army, with the command of the 
Northwest frontier. In 1S13 he was made 
Major-General, and as such won much re- 
nown by the defense of Fort Meigs, and the 
battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813. In 
1 8 14 he left the army and was employed in 
Indian affairs by the Government. 

In 18 16 Genei^al Harrison was chosen a 
member of the National House of Repre- 
sentatives to represent the district of Ohio. 
In the contest which preceded his election 
he was accused of corruption in respect to 
the commissariat of the army. Immedi- 
ately upon taking his seat, he called for an 
investigation of the charge. A committee 
was appointed, and his vindication was 
triumphant. A high compliment was paid 
to his patriotism, disinterestedness and 
devotion to the public service. For these 
services a gold medal was presented to him 
with the thanks of Congress. 

In 1 8 19 he was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio, and in 1824, as one of the Presiden- 
tial electors of that State, he gave his vote 
to Henry Clay. In the same year he was 
elected to the Senate of the United States. 
In 1828 he was appointed by President 
Adams minister plenipotentiary to Colom- 
bia, but was recalled by General Jackson 
immediately after the inauguration of the 
latter. 

Upon his return to the United States, 
General Harrison retired to his farm at 



North Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio, six- 
teen miles below Cincinnati, where for 
twelve years he was clerk of the County 
Court. He once owned a distillery, but 
perceiving the sad effects of whisky upon 
the surrounding population, he promptly 
abandoned his business at great pecuniary 
sacrifice. 

In 1836 General Harrison was brought 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency. 
Van Buren was the administration candi- 
date; the opposite party could not unite, 
and four candidates were brought forward. 
General Harrison received seventy-three 
electoral votes without any general concert 
among his friends. The Democratic party 
triumphed and Mr. Van Buren was chosen 
President. In 1839 General Harrison was 
again nominated for the Presidency by the 
Whigs, at Harrisburg, Penns\'lvania, Mr. 
Van Buren being the Democratic candi- 
date. General Harrison received 234 elec- 
toral votes against sixty for his opponent. 
This election is memorable chiefly for the 
then extraordinary means employed during 
the canvass for popular votes- Mass meet- 
ings and processions were introduced, and 
the watchwords " log cabin " and " hard 
cider " were effectually used by the Whigs, ^ 
and aroused a popular enthusiasm. 

A vast concourse of people attended his 
inauguration. His address on that occasion 
was in accordance with his antecedents, and 
gave great satisfaction. A short time after he 
took his seat, he was seized by a pleurisv- 
fever, and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died April 4, just one short month after 
his inauguration. His death was universally 
regarded as one of the greatest of National 
calamities. Never, since the death of 
Washington, were there, throughout one 
land, such demonstrations of sorrow. Not 
one single spot can be found to sully his 
fame; and through all ages Americans will 
pronounce with love and reverence the 
name of William Henrv Harrison. 



6o 



PliESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 











m I 








OHN TYLER, the tenth 
President of the United 
ix'" '^U^/iM i 1^^** States, was born in 
Charles City County, 
\'irginia, March 29, 1790. 
His father, Judge John 
Tyler, possessed large 
landed estates in Virginia, 
and was one of the most 
distinguished men of his 
day, filling the offices of 
Speaker of the House of 
Delegates, Judge of the Su- 
preme Court and Governor 
of the State. 
At the early age of twelve 
entered William and Mary 
trraduated with honor when 
but seventeen years old. He then closely 
applied himself to the study of law, and at 
nineteen years of age commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession. When only twenty- 
one he was elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He acted witii the Demo- 
cratic party and advocated the measures of 
Jefferson and Madison. For five years he 
was elected to the Legislature, receiving 
nearly the unanimous vote of his county. 

When but twentv-six years of age he was 
elected a member of Congress. He advo- 
cated a strict construction of the Constitu- 
tion and the most careful vigilance over 



young John 
College, and 



State rights. He was soon compelled to 
resign his seat in Congress, owing to ill 
health, but afterward took his seat in the 
State Legislature, where he exerted a 
powerful influence in promoting public 
works of great utility. 

In 1825 Mr. Tvler was chosen Governor 
of his State — a high honor, for Virginia 
had many able men as competitors for 
the prize. His administration was signally 
a successful one. He urged forward inter- 
nal improvements and strove to remove 
sectional jealousies. His popularity secured 
his re-election. In 1827 he was elected 
United States Senator, and upon taking his 
seat joined the ranks of the opposition. He 
opposed the tariff, voted against the bank 
as unconstitutional, opposed all restrictions 
upon slavery, resisted all projects of inter- 
nal improvements by the General Govern- 
ment, avowed his sympathy with Mr. Cal- 
houn's views of nullification, and declared 
that General Jackson, by his opposition to 
the nuUifiers, had abandoned the principles 
of the Democratic part}'. Such was Mr. 
Tyler's record in Congress. 

This hostility to Jackson caused Mr. 
Tyler's retirement from the Senate, after 
his election to a second term. He soon 
after removed to Williamsburg for the 
better education of his children, and again 
took his scat in the Legislature. 





^(fy'urc 




JOHN rVLER. 



63 



In 1839 he was sent to the National Con- 
vention at Harrisburg to nominate a Presi- 
dent. General Harrison received a majorit)- 
of votes, much to the disappointment of the 
South, who had wished for Henry Clay. 
In order to concil'ate the Southern Whigs, 
John Tyler was nominated for ^^ice-Presi- 
dent. Harrison and Tyler were inaugu- 
rated March 4, 1841. In one short month 
from that time President Harrison died, 
and Mr. Tyler, to his own surprise as well 
as that of the nation, found himself an 
occupant of the Presidential chair. His 
position was an exceedingly difficult one, 
as he was opposed to the main principles of 
the party which had brought him into 
power. General Harrison had selected a 
Whig cabinet. Should he retain them, and 
thus surround himself with councilors 
whose views were antagonistic to his own? 
or should he turn against the party that 
had elected him, and select a cabinet in 
harmony with himself? This was his fear- 
ful dilemma. 

President Tyler deserves more charity 
than he has received. He issued an address 
to the people, which gave general satisfac- 
tion. He retained the cabinet General 
Harrison had selected. His veto of a bill 
chartering a new national bank led to an 
open quarrel with the party which elected 
him, and to a resignation of the entire 
cabinet, except Daniel Webster, Secretary 
of State. 

President T\-ler attempted to conciliate. 
He appointed a new cabinet, leaving out all 
strong party men, but the Whig members 
of Congress were not satisfied, and they 
published a manifesto September 13, break- 
ing off ail political relations. The Demo- 
crats had a majority in the House ; the 
Whigs in the Senate. Mr. Webster soon 
found it necessary to resign, being forced 
out by the pressure of his Whig friends. 

April 12, i8z^4, President Tyler concluded, 
through Mr. Calhoun, a treaty for the an- 



nexation of Texas, which was rejected by 
the Senate ; but he effected his object in the 
closing days of his administration by the 
passage of the joint resolution of March i 
1845. 

He was nominated for the Presidency by 
an informal Democratic Convention, held 
at Baltimore in May, 1844, but soon with- 
drew from the canvass, perceiving that he 
had not gained the confidence of the Demo- 
crats at large. 

Mr. Tyler's administration was particu- 
larly unfortunate. No one was satisfied. 
Whigs and Democrats alike assailed him. 
Situated as he was, it is more than can 
be expected of human nature that he 
should, in all cases, have acted in the wisest 
manner ; but it will probably be the verdict 
of all candid men, in a careful review of his 
career, that John Tyler was placed in a 
position of such difficulty that he could not 
pursue an)' course which would not expose 
him to severe censure and denunciation. 

In 1813 Mr. T\ler married Letitia Chris- 
tian, who bore him three sons and three 
daughters, and died in Washington in 1842. 
June 26, 1844, he contracted a second mar- 
riage with Miss Julia Gardner, of New 
York. He lived in almost complete retire- 
ment from politics until February, 1861, 
when he was a member of the abortive 
" peate convention," held at Washington, 
and was chosen its President. Soon after 
he renounced his allegiance to the United 
States and was elected to the Confederate 
Congress. He died at Richmond, January 
17, 1862, after a short illness. 

Unfortunately for his memory the name 
of John Tyler must forever be associated 
with all the misery of that terrible Re- 
bellion, whose cause he openly espoused. 
It is with sorrow that history records that 
a President of the United States died while 
defending the flag of rebellion, which was 
arrayed against the national banner in 
deadly warfare. 



64 



PliES/DENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



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,^. AMES KNOX POLK, 
'% the eleventh President of 
§m the United States, 1845- 
s' 49, was born in Meck- 

lenburg County, North 
A- Carolina, November 2, 
1795. He was the eldest 
son of a family of six sons 
and four daughters, and was 
a grand-nephew of Colonel 
Thomas Polk, celebrated in 
connection with the Meck- 
lenburg Declaration of In- 
dependence. 

In 1806 his father, Samuel 
Polk, emigrated with his fam- 
il}- two or tliree hundred miles west to the 
valley of the Duck River. He was a sur- 
veyor as well as farmer, and gradually in- 
creased in wealth until he became one of 
the leading men of tlje region. 

In the common schools James rapidly be- 
came proficient in all the common branches 
of an English education. In 181 3 he was 
sent to Murfreesboro Academy, and in the 
autumn of 1815 entered the sophomore class 
in the University of North Carolina, at 
Chapel Hill, graduating in 181 8. After a 
short season of recreation he went to Nash- 
ville and entered the law office of Felix 
Grundy. As soon as he had his finished 



legal studies and been admitted to the bar, 
he returned to Cokunbia, the shire town of 
Maury County, and opened an office. 

James K. Polk ever adhered to the polit- 
ical faith of his father, which was that of 
a Jeffersonian Republican. In 1S23 he was 
elected to the Legislature of Tennessee. As 
a "strict constructionist," he did not think 
that the Constitution empowered the Gen- 
eral Government to carry on a sj'stem of 
internal improvements in the States, but 
deemed it important that it should have 
that power, and wished the Constitution 
amended that it might be conferred. Sub- 
sequentl)-, however, he became alarmed lest 
the General Government become so strong 
as to undertake to interfere with slavery. 
He therefore gave all his influence to 
strengthen the State governments, and to 
check the growth of the central power. 

In Januar}', 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss 
Mary Childress, of Rutherford County, Ten- 
nessee. Had some one then whispered to 
him that he was destined to become Presi- 
dent of the United States, and that he must 
select for his companion one who would 
adorn that distinguished station, he could 
not have made a more fitting choice. She 
was trul)^ a lady of rare beauty and culture. 

In the fall of 1825 Mr. Polk was chosen 
a member of Congress, and was continu- 



J.I USS A'. POLK. 



67 



ously re-elected until 1839. He then with- 
drew, only that he might accept the 
gubernatorial chair of his native State. 
He was a warm friend of General Jackson, 
who had been defeated in the- electoral 
contest by John Ouincy Adams. This 
latter gentleman had just taken his seat in 
the Presidential chair when Mr. Polk took 
his seat in the House of Representatives. 
He immediately united himself with the 
opponents of Mr. Adams, and was soon 
regarded as the leader of the Jackson party 
in the House. 

The four years of I^fr. Adams' adminis- 
tration passed away, and General Jackson 
took tne Presidential chair. Mr. Polk had 
now become a man of great influence in 
Congress, ana was chairman of its most 
important committee — that of Ways and 
Means. Eloquently he sustained General 
Jackson in all his measures — in his hostility 
to internal improvements, to the banks, and 
to the tariff. Eight years of General Jack- 
son's administration passed away, and the 
powers he had wielded passed into the 
hands of Martin Van Buren ; and still Mr. 
Polk remained in the House, the advocate 
of that type of Democracy which those 
distinguished men upheld. 

During five sessions of Congress Mr. 
Polk was speaker of the House. He per- 
formed his arduous duties to general satis- 
faction, and a unanimous vote of thanks to 
him was passed by the House as he with- 
drew, March 4, 1839. He was elected 
Governor by a large majority, and took 
the oath of office at Nashville, October 14, 
1839. He was a candidate for re-election 
in 1 841, but was defeated. In the mean- 
time a wonderful revolution had swept 
over the country. W. H. Harrison,the Whig 
candidate, had been called to the Presiden- 
tial chair, and in Tennessee the Whig ticket 
had been carried by over 12,000 majority. 
Under these circumstances Mr. Polk's suc- 
cess was hopeless. Still he canvassed the 



State with his Whig competitor, Mr. Jones, 
traveling in the most friendly manner to- 
gether, often in the same carriage, and at 
one time sleeping in the same bed. Mr. 
Jones was elected by 3.000 majorit)'. 

And now the question of the annexation 
of Te.xas to our countr}- agitated the whole 
land. When this question became national 
Mr. Polk, as the avowed champion of an- 
nexation, became the Presidential candidate 
of the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic 
party, and George M. Dallas their candi- 
date for the Vice-Presidency. They were 
elected by a large majority, and were in- 
augurated March 4, 1845. 

President Polk formed an able cabinet, 
consisting of James Buchanan, Robert J. 
Walker, William L. Marcy, George Ban- 
croft, Cave Johnson and John Y. Mason. 
The Oregon boundary question was settled, 
the Department of the Interior was created, 
the low tariff oi 1846 was carried, the 
financial S3'stem of the Government was 
reorganized, the Mexican war was con- 
ducted, which resulted in the acquisition of 
California and New Mexico, and had far- 
reaching consequences upon the later fort- 
unes of the republic. Peace was made. 
We had wrested from Mexico territory 
equal to four times the empire of France, 
and five times that of Spain. In the prose- 
cution of this war we expended 20,000 
lives and more than $100,000,000. Of this 
money $15,000,000 were paid to Mexico. 

Declining to seek a renomination, Mr. 
Polk retired from the Presidency March 4, 
1849, when he was succeeded by General 
Zachary Taylor. He retired to Nashville, 
and died there June 19, 1849, i" the fifty- 
fourth year of his age. His funeral was at- 
tended the following day, in Nashville, with 
every demonstration of respect. He left 
no children. Without being possessed of 
extraordinary talent, Mr. Polk was a capable 
administrator of public affairs, and irre- 
proachable in private life. 



es 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




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>^ ACHARY TAY- 
r-^ LOR, the twelfth 
' "" President of the 

United States, 
i849-'50, was born 
in Orange County, 
Virginia, Septem- 
1784. His father, 
Richard Taylor, was Colo- 
nel of a Virginia regiment 
in the Revolutionary war, 
and removed to Kentucky 
in 1785 ; purchased a large 
plantation near Louisville 
and became an influential cit- 
izen ; was a member of the convention that 
framed the Constitution of Kentucky; served 
in both branches of the Legislature ; was 
Collector of the port of Louisville under 
President Washington ; as a Presidential 
elector, voted for Jefferson, Madison, Mon- 
roe and Clay; died January 19,1829. 

Zachary remained on his father's planta- 
tion until 1808, in which year (May 3) he 
was appointed First Lieutenant in the 
Seventh Infantry, to fill a vacancy oc- 
casioned by the death of his elder brother, 
Hancock. Up to this point he had received 
but a limited education. 

joining his regiment at New Orleans, he 



was attacked with yellow fever, with nearly 
fatal termination. In November, 18 10, he 
was promoted to Captain, and ni the sum- 
mer of 1812 he was in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the left bank of the Wabash 
River, near the present site of Terre Haute, 
his successful defense of which with but a 
handful of men against a large force of 
Indians whicii had attacked him was one of 
the first marked military achievements of 
the war. He was then brevetted Major, 
and in 18 14 promoted to the full rank. 

During the remainder of the war Taylor 
was actively emplo3-ed on the Western 
frontier. In the peace organization of 181 5 
he was retained as Captain, but soon after 
resigned and settled near Louisville. In 
May, 1816, however, he re-entered the army 
as Major of the Third Infantry ; became 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighth Infantry 
in 1819, and in 1832 attained the Colonelcy 
of the First Infantry, of which he had been 
Lieutenant-Colonel since 1821. On different 
occasions he had been called to Washington 
as member of a military board for organiz- 
ing the militia of the Union, and to aid the 
Government with his knowledge in the 
organization of the Indian Bureau, having 
for many years discharged the duties of 
Indian agent over large tracts of Western 






»^ 



ZACHART TAT LOR. 



7i 



country. He served through the Black 
Hawk war in 1832, and in 1837 was ordered 
to take command in Florida, then the scene 
of war with the Indians. 

In 1846 he was transferred to the com- 
mand of the Army of the Southwest, from 
which he was relieved the same year at his 
own request. Subsequentl)" he was sta- 
tioned on the Arkansas frontier at Forts 
Gibbon, Smith and Jesup, which latter work 
had been built under his direction in 1822. 

Way 28, 1 84:5, '""c received a dispatch from 
the Secretarv of War informing him of the 
receipt of information by the President 
" that Texas would shortly accede to the 
terms of anne.xation," in which event he 
was instructed to defend and protect her 
from " foreign invasion and Indian incur- 
sions." He proceeded, upon the annexation 
of Texas, with about 1,500 men to Corpus 
Chnsti, where his force was increased to 
some 4,000. 

Taylor was brevetted Major-General May 
28, and a month later, June 29, 1S46, his full 
commission to that grade was issued. After 
needed rest and reinforcement, he advanced 
in September on Monterey, which city ca- 
pitulated after three-days stubborn resist- 
ance. Here he took up his winter quarters. 
The plan for the invasion of Mexico, by 
way of Vera Cruz, with Gene'^al Scott in 
command, was now determined upon by 
the Govenrment, and at the moment Taylor 
was about to resume active operations, he 
received orders to send the larger part of 
his force to reinforce the army of General 
Scott at Vera Cruz. Though subsequently 
reinforced by raw recruits, yet after pro- 
viding a garrison for Monterey and Saltillo 
he had but about 5,300 effective troops, of 
which but 500 or 600 were regulars. In 
this weakened condition, however, he was 
destined to achieve his greatest victory. 
Confidently rel3ing upon his strength at 
Vera Cruz to resist the enemy for a long 
time, Santa Anna directed his entire army 



against Taylor to overwhelm him, and then 
to return to oppose the advance of Scott's 
more formidable invasion. The battle of 
Buena Vista was fought February 22 and 
23, 1847. Taylor received the thanks of 
Congress and a gold medal, and " Old 
Rough and Ready," the sobi'iquet given 
him in the army, became a household word. 
He remained in quiet possession of the 
Rio Grande Valley until November, when 
he returned to the United States. 

In the Whig convention which met at 
Philadelphia, June 7, 1848, Taylor was nomi- 
nated on the fourth ballot as candidate of 
the Whig party for President, over Henry 
Clay, General Scott and Daniel Webster. 
In November Ta3'lor received a majority 
of electoral votes, and a popular vote of 
1,360,752, against 1,219,962 for Cass and 
Butler, and 291,342 for Van Buren and 
Adams. General Taylor was inaugurated 
March 4, 1849. 

The free and slave States being then equal 
in number, the struggle for supremacy on 
the part of the leaders in Congress was 
violent and bitter. In the summer of 1849 
California adopted in convention a Consti- 
tution prohibiting slavery within its borders. 
Taylor advocated the immediate admission 
of California with her Constitution, and the 
postponement of the question as to the other 
Territories until they could hold conven- 
tions and decide for themselves whether 
slavery should exist within their borders. 
This policy ultimately prevailed through 
the celebrated " Compromise Measures" of 
Henry Clay ; but not during the life of the 
brave soldier and patriot statesman. July 
5 he was taken suddenly ill with a bilious 
fever, which proved fatal, his death occur- 
ring July 9, 1850. One of his daughters 
married Colonel W. W. S. Bliss, his Adju- 
tant-General and Chief of Staff in Florida 
and Mexico, and Private Secretary during 
his Presidency. Another daughter was 
married to Jefferson Davis. 



P/iES/DENTS OF THE U.VITED STATES. 








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LARD FILL- 
MORE, the thir- 

!■ teenth President 
of the United 
States, i850-'3, was 
born in Summer 
Hill, Cayuga 
, New York, Janu- 

1800. He was of 



New England ancestry, and 
his educational advantages 
were limited. He early 
learned the clothiers' trade, 
but spent all his leisure time 
in study. At nineteen years 
*'' of age he was induced by 
Judge Walter Wood to abandon his trade 
and commence the study of law. Upon 
learning that the young man was entirely 
destitute of means, he took him into his 
own office and loaned him such money as 
he needed. That he might not be heavily 
burdened with debt, young Fillmore taught 
school during the winter months and in 
various other ways helped himself along. 
At the age of twenty-three he was ad- 
mitted to the Court of Common Pleas, and 
commenced the practice of his profession 
in the village of Aurora, situated on the 



eastern bank of the Ca3'uga Lake. In 1825 
he married Miss Abigail Powers, daughter 
of Rev. Lemuel Powers, a lady of great 
moral worth. In 1825 he took his seat in 
the House of Assembly of his native State, 
as Representative from Erie County, 
whither he had recently moved. 

Though he had never taken a very 
active part in politics his vote and his sym- 
pathies were with the Whig party. The 
State was then Democratic, but his cour- 
tesy, ability and integrity won the respect 
of his associates. In 1832 he was elected 
to a seat in the United States Congress. 
At the close of his term he returned to his 
law practice, and in two years more he was 
again elected to Congress. 

He now began to have a national reputa- 
tion. His labors were very arduous. To 
draft resolutions in the committee room, 
and then to defend them against the most 
skillful opponents on the floor of the House 
requires readiness of mind, mental resources 
and skill in debate such as few possess. 
Weary with these exhausting labors, and 
pressed by the claims of his private affairs, 
Ml'. Fillmore wrote a letter to his constitu- 
ents and declined to be a candidate foi re- 
election. Notwithstanding this communi- 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



7S 



cation his friends met in convention and 
renominated him bv acclamation. Though 
gratified by this proof of their appreciation 
of his labors he adhered to his resolve and 
returned to his home. 

In 1847 Mr. Fillmore was elected to the 
important otifice of comptroller of the State. 
In entering upon the very responsible duties 
which this situation demanded, it was nec- 
essary for him to abandon his profession, 
and he removed to the city of Albany. In 
this year, also, the Whigs were looking 
around to find suitable candidates for the 
President and Vice-President at the ap- 
proaching election, and the names of Zach- 
ary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying cry of the Whigs. On the 4th 
of March, 1S49, General Taylor was inaug- 
urated President and Millard Fillmore 
Vice-President of the United States. 

The great question of slavery had as- 
sumed enormous proportions, and perme- 
ated every subject that was brought before 
Congress. It was evident that the strength 
of our institutions was to be severely tried. 
July 9, 1850, President Taylor died, and, by 
the Constitution, Vice-President Fillmore 
became President of the United States. 
The agitated condition of the country 
brought questions of great delicacy before 
him. He was bound by his oath of office 
to e.xecute the laws of the United States. 
One of these laws was understood to be, 
that if a slave, escaping from bondage, 
should reach a free State, the United States 
was bound to do its jitmost to capture him 
and return him to his master. Most Chris- 
tian men loathed this law. President Fill- 
more felt bound by his oath rigidly to see 
it enforced. Slavery was organizing armies 
to invade Cuba as it had invaded Texas, 
and annex it to the United States. Presi- 
dent Fillmore gave all the influence of his 
exalted station against the atrocious enter- 
prise. 

Mr. Fillmore had serious difficulties to 



contend with, since the opposition had a 
majority in both Houses. He did every- 
thing in his power to conciliate the South, 
but the pro-slavery party in that section 
felt the inadequency of all measures of tran- 
sient conciliation. The population of the 
free States was so rapidly increasing over 
that of the slave States, that it was inevita- 
ble that the power of the Government 
should soon pass into the hands of the free 
States. The famous compromise measures 
were adopted under Mr. Fillmore's admin- 
istration, and the Japan expedition was 
sent out. 

March 4, 1853, having served one term, 
President Fillmore retired from office. He 
then took a long tour through the South, 
where he met with quite an enthusiastic 
reception. In a speech at Vicksburg, al- 
luding to the rapid growth of the country, 
he said: 

" Canada is knocking for admission, and 
Mexico would be glad to come in, and 
without saying whether it would be right 
or wrong, we stand with open arms to re- 
ceive them; for it is the manifest destiny of 
this Government to embrace the whole 
North American Continent." 

In 1855 Mr. Fillmore went to Europe 
where he was received with those marked 
attentions which his position and character 
merited. Returning to this country in 
1856 he was nominated for the Presidency 
by the "Know-Nothing" party. Mr. Bu- 
chanan, the Democratic candidate was 
the successful competitor. Mr. Fillmore 
ever afterward lived in retirement. Dur- 
ing the conflict of civil war he was mostly 
silent. It was generally supposed, how- 
ever, that hissympath}' was with the South- 
ern Confederacy. He kept aloof from the 
conflict without any words of cheer to the 
one party or the other. For this reason 
he was forgotten by both. He died of 
paralysis, in Buffalo, New York, March 8, 
1874. 



76 



PRESfDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



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'r^ANKLIN PIERCE, 
the fourteenth Presi- 
dent of the United 
States, was born in 
Hillsborough, New 
Hampshire, Novem- 
ber 23, 1804. His 
father, Governor 
Benjamin Pierce, was a Rev- 
olutionary soldier, a man of 
rigid integrity ; was for sev- 
eral years in the State Legis- 
lature, a member of the Gov- 
ernor's council and a General 
of the militia. 
Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 
As a boy he listened eagerly to the argu- 
ments of his father, enforced by strong and 
ready utterance and earnest gesture. It 
was in the days of intense political excite- 
ment, when, all over the New England 
States, Federalists and Democrats were ar- 
rayed so fiercely against each other. 

In 1820 he entered Bowdoin College, at 
Brunswick, Maine, and graduated in 1824, 
and commenced the study of law in the 
office of Judge Woodbury, a ver}' distin- 
guished lawyer, and in 1827 was admitted 
to the bar. He practiced with great success 
in Hillsborough and Concord. He served 



in the State Legislature four 3'ears, the last 
two of which he was chosen Speaker of the 
H(5use b}' a very large vote. 

In 1833 he was elected a member of Con- 
gress. In 1837 he was elected to the United 
States Senate, just as Mr. Van Buren com- 
menced his administration. 

In 1834 he married Miss Jane Means 
Appleton, a lad}' admirably fitted to adorn 
every station with which her husband was 
honored. Three sons born to them all 
found an early grave. 

Upon his accession to office, President 
Polk appointed Mr. Pierce Attorney-Gen- 
eral of the United States, but the offer was 
declined in consequence of numerous pro- 
fessional engagements at home and the 
precarious state of Mrs. Pierce's health. 
About the same time he also decHned the 
nomination for Governor bv the Demo- 
cratic party. 

The war with Mexico called Mr. Pierce 
into the arm}'. Receiving the appointment 
of Brigadier-General, he embarked with a 
portion of his troops at Newport, Rhode 
Island, May 27, 1847. He served during 
this war, and distinguished himself by his 
bravery, skill and excellent judgment. 
When he reached his home in his native 
State he was enthusiastically received by 



FRANKLIN PIERCE. 



79 



the advocates of the war, and coldly b}^ its 
opponents. He resumed the practice of liis 
profession, frequently taking an active part 
in political questions, and giving his sup- 
port to the pro-slavery wing of the Demo- 
cratic party. 

June 12, 1852, the Democratic convention 
met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate 
for the Presidenc}-. For four days they 
continued in session, and in thirty-five bal- 
lotings no one had received the requisite 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote had been 
thrown thus far for General Pierce. Then 
the Virginia delegation brought forward 
his name. There were fourteen more bal- 
lotings, during which General Pierce 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth 
ballot, he received 282 votes, and all other 
candidates eleven. General Winfield Scott 
was the Whig candidate. General Pierce 
was elected with great unanimity. Onl}' 
four States — Vermont, Massachusetts, Ken- 
tuck}' and Tennessee — cast their electoral 
votes against him. March 4, 1853, he was 
inaugurated President of the United States, 
and William R. King, Vice-President. 

President Pierce's cabinet consisted of 
William S. Marcy, James Guthrie, Jefferson 
Davis, James C. Dobbin, Robert McClel- 
land, James Campbell and Caleb dishing. 

At the demand of slaver\- the >fissouri 
Compromise was repealed, and all the Ter- 
ritories of the Union were thrown open to 
slavery. The Territorj' of Kansas, west of 
Missouri, was settled by emigrants mainl}' 
from the North. According to law, thev 
were about to meet and decide whether 
slavery or freedom should be the law of 
that realm. Slavery in Missouri and 
other Southern States rallied her armed 
legions, marched them into Kansas, took 
possession of the polls, drove away the 
citizens, deposited their own votes by 
handfuls, went through the farce of count- 
ing them, and then declared that, by an 
overwhelming majority, slavery was estab- 



lished in Kansas. These facts nobody 
denied, and 3-et President Pierce's adminis- 
tration felt bound to respect the decision 
obtained b}' such votes. The citizens of 
Kansas, the majority of whom were free- 
State men, met in convention and adopted 
the following resolve : 

"Rcsok'cJ, That the body of men who, 
for the past two months, have been passing 
laws for the people of our Territory, 
moved, counseled and dictated to by the 
demagogues of other States, are to us a 
foreign body, representing only the lawless 
invaders who elected them, and not the 
people of this Territory ; that we repudiate 
their action as the monstrous consummation 
of an act of violence, usurpation and fraud 
unparalleled in the history of the Union." 

The free-State people of Kansas also sent 
a petition to the General Government, im- 
ploring its protection. Iii reply the Presi- 
dent issued a proclamation, declaring that 
Legislature thus created must be recog- 
nized as the legitimate Legislature of I-ian- 
sas, and that its laws were binding upon 
the people, and that, if necessarv, the whole 
force of the Governmental arm would be 
put forth to inforce those laws. 

James Buchanan succeeded him in the 
Presidency, and, March 4, 1S57, President 
Pierce retired to his home in Concord, 
New Hampshire. When the Rebellion 
burst forth Mr. Pierce remained steadfast 
to the principles he had always cherished, 
and gave his sympathies to the pro-slavery 
party, with which he had ever been allied. 
He declined to do an\'thing, eithei" bv 
voice or pen, to strengthen the hands ot 
the National Government. He resided in 
Concord until his death, which occurred in 
October, 1869. He was one of the most 
genial and social of men, generous to 
a fault, and contributed liberall)- of his 
moderate means for the alleviation of suf- 
fering and want. He was an honored 
communicant of the Episcopal church. 



So 



rnEsrDE.VTS of the united states. 










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•^Y AMES BUCHANAN, the 
''' "■ fifteenth President of the 



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United States. 1857-61, 
was born in Franklin 
County, Penns3lvania, 
p April 23, 1791. The 
])lacc where his father's 
cabin stood was called 
Stony Batter, and it was 
situated in a wild, romantic 
spot, in a goi-ge of mount- 
ains, with towering sum- 
mits rising all around. He 
was of Irish ancestry, his 
father having emigrated in- 
1783, with very little prop- 
erty, save his own strong arms. 

James remained in his secluded home for 
eight years enjoying very few social or 
intellectual advantages. His parents were 
industrious, frugal, prosperous and intelli- 
gent. In 1799 his father removed to Mer- 
cersburg, where James was placed in 
school and commenced a course in English, 
Greek and Latin. His progress was rapid 
and in 1801 he entered Dickinson College 
at Carlisle. Here he took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution, and was 
able to master the most abstruse subjects 
with facility. In 1809 he graduated with 
the highest honors in his class. 

He was then eighteen years of age, tall, 



graceful and in vigorous health, fond of 
athletic sports, an uneiTing shot and en- 
livened with an exuberant flow of animal 
spirits. He immediately commenced the 
study of law in the city of Lancaster, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1S12. He rose 
very rapidly in his profession and at once 
took undisputed stand with the ablest law- 
3-ers of the State. When but twenty-six 
years of age, unaided b)' counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate 
one of the Judges of the State, who was 
tried upon articles of impeachment At 
the age of thirty it was generally admitted 
that he stood at the head of the bar, and 
there was no law3'er in the State who had 
a more extensive or lucrative practice. 

In 1812, just after Mr. Buchanan had 
entered upon the practice of the law, our 
second war with England occurred. With 
all his powers he sustained the Govern- 
ment, eloquently urging the rigorous pros- 
ecution of the war; and even enlisting as a 
private soldier to assist in repelling the 
British, who had sacked Washington and 
were threatening Baltimore. He was at 
that time a Federalist, but when the Con- 
stitution was adopted by both parties, 
Jefferson truly said, " We are all Federal- 
ists; we are all Republicans." 

The opposition of the Federalists to tiic 
war with England, and the alien and sedi- 




d 





i^'z^ear^ 



y.lMES BUCHANAN. 



S3 



tion laws of John Adams, brought the party 
into dispute, and the name of Federalist 
became a reproach. Mr. Buchanan almost 
immediately upon entering Congress began 
to incline more and more to the Repub- 
licans. In the stormy Presidential election 
of 1824, in which Jackson, Cla}-, Crawford 
and John Ouincy Adams were candidates, 
Mr. Buchanan espoused the cause of Gen- 
eral Jackson and unrelentingly opposed the 
administration of Mr. Adams. 

Upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
General Jackson appointed Mr. Buchanan, 
minister to Russia. Upon his return in 1S33 
he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met as his associates, 
Webster, Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He 
advocated the measures proposed by Presi- 
dent Jackson of making reprisals against 
France, and defended the course of the Pres- 
ident in his unprecedented and wholesale 
removals from office of those who were not 
the supporters of his administration. Upon 
this question he was brought into direct col- 
lision with Henr)- Clay. In the discussion 
of the question respecting the admission of 
Michigan and Arkansas into the Union, Mr. 
Buchanan defined his position by saying: 

" The older I grow, the more I am in- 
clined to be what is called a State-rights 
man." 

M. de Tocqueville, in his renowned work 
upon " Democracy in America," foresaw 
the trouble which was inevitable from the 
doctrine of State sovereignty as held by 
Calhoun and Buchanan. He was con- 
vinced that the National Government was 
losing that strength which was essential 
to its own existence, and that the States 
were assuming powers which threatened 
the perpetuity of the Union. Mr. Buchanan 
received the book in the Senate and de- 
clared the fears of De Tocqueville to be 
groundless, and yet he lived to sit in the 
Presidential chair and see State after State, 
in accordance with his own views of State 



rights, breaking from the Union, thus 
crumbling our Republic into ruins; while 
the unhappy old man folded his arms in 
despair, declaring that the National Consti- 
tution invested him with no power to arrest 
the destruction. 

Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presi- 
dency, Mr. Buchanan became Secretary of 
State, and as such took his share of the 
responsibility in the conduct of the Mexi- 
can war. At the close of Mr. Polk's ad- 
ministi-ation, Mr. Buchanan retired to pri- 
vate life; but his intelligence, and his great 
ability as a statesman, enabled him to exert 
a powerful influence in National affairs. 

Mr. Pierce, upon his election to the 
Presidency, honored Mr. Buchanan with 
the mission to England. In the year 1856 
the National Democratic convention nomi- 
nated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. 
The political conflict was one of the most 
severe in which our country has ever en- 
gaged. On the 4th of March, 1857, Mr. 
Buchanan was inaugurated President. His 
cabinet were Lewis Cass, Howell Cobb, 
J. B. Floyd, Isaac Toucey, Jacob Thomp- 
son, A. V. Brown and J. S. Black. 

The disruption of the Democratic party, 
in consequence of the manner in which the 
issue of the nationality of slavery was 
pressed by the Southern wing, occurred at 
the National convention, held at Cliarleston 
in April, i860, for the nomination of Mr. 
Buchanan's successor, when the majorit}^ 
of Southern delegates withdrew upon the 
passage of a resolution declaring that the 
constitutional status of slavery should be 
determined by the Supreme Court. 

In the next Presidential canvass Abra- 
ham Lincoln was nominated by the oppo- 
nents of Mr. Buchanan's administration. 
Mr. Buchanan remained in Washington 
long enough to see his successor installed 
and then retired to his home in Wheatland. 
He died June i, 1868, aged seventy-seven 
years. 



84 



PliE^/DENTS OF THE UXITED STATES. 



i,% B R fl H A ivi: LIN CD L N J 

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BRAHAM LIN- 
COLN, the sixteentli 
President of the 
United States, i86i-'5, 
was born February 
12, 1809, in Larue 
(then Hardin) County, 
Kentucky, in a cabin on Nolan 
Creek, three miles west of 
Hudgensville. His parents 
w ere Thomas and Nancy 
(Hanks) Lincoln. Of his an- 
cestry and early years the little 
"^^^ that is known may best be 
given in his own language : " My 
parents were both born in Virginia, of un- 
distinguished families — second families, per- 
haps I should say. M3' mother, who died 
in my tenth year, was of a family o[ the 
name of Hanks, some of whom now remain 
in Adams, and others in Macon County, 
Illinois. My paterna' grandfather, Abra- 
ham Lincoln, emigrated from Rockbridge 
County, Virginia, to Kentucky in 1781 or 
1782, where, a 3'ear or two later, he was 
killed by Indians — not in battle, but b)^ 
Stealth, when he was laboring to open a 
<rfarm in the forest. His ancestors, who were 
Quakers, went to Virginia from Berks 
County, Pennsylvania. An effort to iden- 



tify them with the New England family of 
the same name ended in nothing more defi- 
nite than a similarity of Christian names in 
both families, such as Enoch, Levi, Mor- 
decai, Solomon, Abraham and the like. 
M}' father, at the death of his father, was 
but si.x years of age, and he grew up, liter- 
ally, without education. He removed from 
Kentucky to what is now Spencer County, 
Indiana, in my eighth year. We reached 
our new home about the time the State came 
into the Union. It was a wild region, with 
bears and other wild animals still in the 
woods. There I grew to manhood. 

" There were some schools, so called, but 
no qualitication was ever required of a 
teacher bevond ' readin', writin', and cijiher- 
in' to the rule of three.' If a straggler, sup- 
posed to understand Latin, happened to 
sojourn in the neighborhood, he was looked 
upon as a wizard. There was absolutely 
nothing to excite ambition for education. 
Of course, when I came of age I did not 
know much. Still, somehow, I could read, 
write and cipher to the rule of three, and 
that was all. I have not been to school 
since. The little advance I now have upon 
this store of education I have picked up 
from time to time under the pressure of 
necessity. I was raised to farm-work, which 





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Qy^/^'OL^^^f:-cr'^^ 



jlBRAHAM LI.\C'>LX. 



87 



I continued till I was t\vent3'-two. At 
twent^'-one I came to Illinois and passed 
the first year in Macon County. Then I got 
to New Salem, at that time in Sangamon, 
now in Menard County, where I remained 
a year as a sort of clerk in a store. 

" Then came the Black Hawk war, and I 
was elected a Captain of volunteers — a suc- 
cess which gave me more pleasure than any 
I have had since. I went the campaign, 
was elated ; ran for the Legislature the 
same year (1832) and was beaten, the onl}- 
time I have ever been beaten by the people. 
The next and three succeeding biennial 
elections I was elected to the Legislature, 
and was never a candidate afterward. 

" During this legislative period I had 
studied law, and removed to .Springfield to 
practice it. In 1846 I was ^elected to the 
Lower House of Congress ; was not a can- 
didate for re-election. From 1849 to 1854- 
inclusive, I practiced the law more assid- 
uously than ever before. Always a Whig 
in politics, and generally on the Whig elec- 
toral tickets, making active canvasses, I was 
losing interest in politics, when the repeal 
of the Missouri Compromise roused me 
again. What I have done since is pretty 
well known." 

The early residence of Lincoln in Indi- 
ana was sixteen miles north of the Ohio 
River, on Little Pigeon Creek, one and a 
half miles east of Gentry ville, within the 
present township of Carter. Here his 
mother died October 5, 1818, and the next 
year his father married Mrs. Sally (Bush) 
Johnston, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. She 
was an affectionate foster-parent, to whom 
Abraham was indebted for his first encour- 
agement to stud}'. He became an eager 
reader, and the few books owned in the 
vicinity were many times perused. He 
worked frequently for the neighbors as a 
farm laborer ; was for some time clerk in a 
store at Gentry ville; and became famous 
throughout that region for his athletic 



powers, his fondness for argument, his in- 
exhaustible fund of humerous anecdote, as 
well as for mock oratory and the composi- 
tion of rude satirical verses. In 1828 he 
made a trading voyage to New Orleans as 
"bow-hand" on a flatboat; removed to 
Illinois in 1830; helped his father build a 
log house and clear a farm on the north 
fork of Sangamon River, ten miles west of 
Decatur, and was for some time employed 
in splitting rails for the fences — a fact which 
was prominentl}' brought forward for a 
political purpose thirty years later. 

In the spring of 1851 he, with two of his 
relatives, was hired to build a flatboat on 
the Sangamon River and navigate it to 
New Orleans. The boat "stuck" on a 
mill-dam, and was got off with great labor 
through an ingenious mechanical device 
which some years later led to Lincoln's 
taking out a patent for "an improved 
method for lifting vessels over shoals." 
This voyage was memorable for another 
reason — the sight of slaves chained, mal- 
treated and flogged at New Orleans was 
the origin of his deep convictions upon the 
slavery question. 

Returning from this vo3-age he became a 
resident for several years at New Salem, a 
recently settled village on the Sangamon, 
where he was successively a clerk, grocer, 
surveyor and postmaster, and acted as pilot 
to the first steamboat that ascended the 
Sangamon. Here he studied law, inter- 
ested himself in local politics after his 
return from the Black Hawk war, and 
became known as an effective "stump- 
speaker." The subject of liis first political 
speech was the improvement of the channel 
of the Sangamon, and the chief ground on 
which he announced himself (1832) a candi- 
date for the Legislature was his advocacy 
of this popular measure, on which subject 
his practical experience made him the high- 
est authority. 

Elected to the Legislature in 1834 as a 



88 



P/if-:S/DE\TS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



" Henry Clay Whig," he rapidly acquired 
that command of language and that homely 
but forcible rhetoric which, added to his 
intimate knowledge of the people from 
which he sprang, made him more than a 
match in debate for his few well-educated 
opponents. 

Admitted to the bar in 1S37 he soon 
established himself at Springfield, where 
the State capital was located in 1839, 
largely through his influence; became a 
successful pleader in the State, Circuit and 
District Courts ; married in 1842 a lady be- 
longing to a prominent famil_y in Lexington, 
Kentucky; took an active part in the Pres- 
idential campaigns of 1840 and 1844 as 
candidate for elector on the Harrison and 
Clay tickets, and in 1846 was elected to the 
United States House of Representatives 
over the celebrated Peter Cartwright. 
During his single term in Congress he did 
not attain any prominence. 

He voted for the reception of anti-slavery 
petitions for the abolition of the slave trade 
in the District of Columbia and for the 
Wilmot proviso; but was chiefly remem- 
bered for the stand he took against the 
Mexican war. For several years there- 
after he took comparatively little interest 
in politics, but gained a leading position at 
tiie Springfield bar. Two or three non- 
political lectures and an eulogy on Henry 
Clay (1852) added nothing to his reputation. 

In 1854 the repeal of the Missouri 
Compromise by the Kansas-Nebraska act 
aroused Lincoln from his indifference, and 
in attacking that measure he had the im- 
mense advantage of knowing perfectly well 
the motives and the record of its author, 
Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, then popu- 
larly designated as the " Little Giant." The 
latter came to Springfield in October, 1854, 
on the occasion of the State Fair, to vindi- 
cate his policy in the Senate, and the " Anti- 
Nebraska" Whigs, remembering that Lin- 
coln had often measured his strength with 



Douglas in the Illinois Legislature and be- 
fore the Springfield Courts, engaged him 
to improvise a reply. This speech, in the 
opinion of those who heard it, was one of 
the greatest efforts of Lincoln's life ; cer- 
tainl}' the most effective in his whole career. 
It took the audience by storm, and from 
that moment it was felt that Douglas had 
met his match. Lincoln was accordingly 
selected as the Anti-Nebraska candidate for 
the United States Senate in place of General 
Shields, whose term expired March 4, 1855, 
and led to several ballots; but Trumbull 
was ultimatel}- chosen. 

The second conflict on the soil of Kan- 
sas, which Lincoln had predicted, soon be- 
gan. The result was the disruption of the 
Whig and the formation of the Republican 
party. At the Bloomington State Conven- 
tion in 1856, where the new party first 
assumed form in Illinois, Lincoln made an 
impressive address, in which for the first 
time he took distinctive ground against 
slavery in itself. 

At the National Republican Convention 
at Philadelphia, June 17, after the nomi- 
nation of Fremont, Lincoln was put for- 
ward by the Illinois delegation for the 
Vice-Presidency, and received on tlie first 
ballot no votes against 259 for William L 
Dayton. He took a prominent part in the 
canvass, being on the electoral ticket. 

In 1858 Lincoln was unanimously nomi- 
nated by the Republican State Convention 
as its candidate for the United States Senate 
in place of Douglas, and in his speech of 
acceptance used the celebrated illustration 
of a "house divided against itself' on the 
slavery question, which was, perhaps, the 
cause of his defeat. The great debate car- 
ried on at all the principal towns of Illinois 
between Lincoln and Douglas as rival Sena- 
torial candidates resulted at the time in the 
election of the latter ; but being widely cir- 
culated as a campaign document, it fixed 
the attention of the country upon the 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



89 



former, as the clearest and most convinc- 
ing exponent of Republican doctrine. 

Early in 1859 he began to be named in 
Illinois as a suitable Republican candidate 
for the Presidential campaign of the ensu- 
ing year, and a political address 'delivered 
at the Cooper Institute, New York, Febru- 
ary 27, i860, followed by similar speeches 
at New Haven, Hartford and elsewhere in 
New England, first made him known to the 
Eastern States in the light by which he had 
long been regarded at home. By the Re- 
publican State Convention, which met at 
Decatur, lUinois, May 9 and 10, Lincoln 
was unanimously endorsed for the Presi- 
dency. It was on this occasion that two 
rails, said to have been split by his hands 
thirty years before, were brought into the 
convention, and the incident contributed 
much to his popularity. The National 
Republican Convention at Chicago, after 
spirited efforts made in favor of Seward, 
Chase and Bates, nominated Lincoln for 
the Presidency, with Hannibal Hamlin 
for Vice-President, at the same time adopt- 
ing a vigorous anti-slavery platform. 

The Democratic party having been dis- 
organized and presenting two candidates, 
Douglas and Breckenridge, and the rem- 
nant of the "American" party having put 
forward John Bell, of Tennessee, the Re- 
publican victory was an easy one, Lincoln 
being elected November 6 by a large plu- 
rality, comprehending nearly all the North- 
ern States, but none of the Southern. The 
secession of South Carolina and the Gulf 
States was the immediate result, followed 
a few months later by that of the border 
slave States and the outbreak of the great 
civil war. 

The life of Abraham Lincoln became 
thenceforth merged in the history of his 
country. None of the details of the vast 
conflict which filled the remainder of Lin- 
coln's life can here be given. Narrowly 
escaping assassination by avoiding Balti- 



more on his way to the capital, he reached 
Washington February 23, and was inaugu- 
rated President of the United States March 
4, 1 86 1. 

In his inaugural address he said: " I hold, 
that in contemplation of universal law and 
the Constitution the Union of these States is 
perpetual. Perpetuity is implied if not ex- 
pressed in the fundamental laws of all na- 
tional governments. It is safe to assert 
that no government proper ever had a pro- 
vision in its organic law for its own termi- 
nation. I therefore consider that in view 
of the Constitution and the laws, the Union 
is unbroken, and to the extent of my ability 
I shall take care, as the Constitution en- 
joins upon me, that the laws of the United 
States be extended in all the States. In 
doing this there need be no bloodshed or vio- 
lence, and there shall be none unless it be 
forced upon the national authority. The 
power conferred to me will be used to hold, 
occupy and possess the property and places 
belonging to the Government, and to col- 
lect the duties and imports, but beyond 
what may be necessary for these objects 
there will be no invasion, no usina- of force 
against or among the people anywhere. In 
your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-country- 
men, is the momentous issue of civil war. 
The Government will not assail you. You 
can have no conflict without being your- 
selves the aggressors. You have no oath 
registered in heaven to destroy the Gov- 
ernment, while I shall have the most sol- 
emn one to preserve, protect and defend 
it." 

He called to his cabinet his principal 
rivals for the Presidential nomination — 
Seward, Chase, Cameron and Bates; se- 
cured the co-operation of the Union Demo- 
crats, headed by Douglas ; called out 75,000 
militia from the several States upon the first 
tidings of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, 
April 15; proclaimed a blockade of the 
Southern posts April 19; called an extra 



go 



PJiES/DEiVrS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



session of Congress for July 4, from which 
he asked and obtained 400,000 men and 
$400,000,000 for the war; placed McClellan 
at the head of the Federal army on General 
Scott's resignation, October 31; appointed 
Edwin M. Stanton Secretary of War, Jan- 
uary 14, 1862, and September 22, 1862, 
issued a proclamation declaring the free- 
dom of all slaves in the States and parts of 
States then in rebellion from and after 
January i, 1863. This was the crowning 
act of Lincoln's career — the act by which 
he will be chiefly known through all future 
time — and it decided the war. 

October 16, 1863, President Lincoln called 
for 300,000 volunteers to replace those 
whose term of enlistment had expired ; 
made a celebrated and touching, though 
brief, address at the dedication of the 
Gett3^sburg military cemetery, November 
19, 1863; commissioned Ulysses S. Grant 
Lieutenant-General and Commander-in- 
Chief of the armies of the United States, 
March 9, 1864; was reelected President in 
November of the same year, by a large 
majoritv over General McClellan, with 
Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, as Vice- 
President; delivered a ver}- remarkable ad- 
dress at his second inauguration, March 4, 
1865; visited the army before Richmond the 
same month; entered the capital of the Con- 
federacy the day after its fall, and upon the 
surrender of General Robert E. Lee's army, 
April 9, was actively engaged in devising 
generous plans for the reconstruction of the 
Union, when, on the evening of Good Fri- 
day, April 14, he was shot in his box at 
Ford's Theatre, Washington, byjohn Wilkes 
Booth, a fanatical actor, and expired earl}' 
on the following morning, April 15. Al- 
most simultaneously a murderous attack 
was made upon William H. Seward, Secre- 
tary of State. 

At noon on the 15th of April Andrew 



Johnson assumed the Presidency, and active 
measures were taken which resulted in the 
death of Booth and the execution of his 
principal accomplices. 

The funeral of President Lincoln was 
conducted with unexampled solemnity and 
magnificence. Impressive services were 
held in Washington, after which the sad 
procession proceeded over the same route 
he had traveled four years before, from 
Springfield to Washington. In Philadel- 
phia his body lay in state in Independence 
Hall, in which he had declared before his 
first inauguration "that I would sooner be 
assassinated than to give up the principles 
of the Declaration of Independence." He 
was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, near 
Springfield, Illinois, on ISIay 4, where a 
monument emblematic of the emancipation 
of the slaves and the restoration of the 
Union mark his resting place. 

The leaders and citizens of the expiring 
Confederacy expressed genuine indignation 
at the murder of a generous political adver- 
sary. Foreign nations took part in mourn- 
ing the death of a statesman who had proved 
himself a true representative of American 
nationality. The freedmen of the South 
almost worshiped the memor}- of their de- 
liverer; and the general sentiment of the 
ereat Nation he had saved awarded him a 
place in its affections, second only to that 
held by Washington. 

The characteristics of Abraham Lincoln 
have been familiarly known throughout the 
civilized world. His tall, g;iunt, ungainly 
figure, homely countenance, and his shrewd 
mother-wit, shown in his celebrated con- 
versations overflowing in humorous and 
pointed anecdote, combined with an accu- 
rate, intuitive appreciation of the questions 
of the time, are recognized as forming the 
best tvpe of a period of American historv 
now rapidly passing away. 



ANDREW JOHNSON. 



93 







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EHHBaB aH HmHHHa aa^ aHH gas HgH ^ eHF j^ ggE 



>^*c^ 











'nDREW JOHNSON, 
the seventeenth Presi- 
dent of the United 
States, 1 865-9, was 
born at Raleigh, 
North Carolina, De- 
c e m b e r 29, 1808. 
His father died when 
he was four years old, and in 
his eleventh 3-ear he was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor. He nev- 
er attended school, and did 
not learn to read until late in 
his apprenticeship, when he 
suddenly acquired a passion for 
obtaining knowledge, and devoted 
all his spare time to reading. 

After working two years as a journey- 
man tailor at Lauren's Court-House, South 
Carolina, he removed, in 1836, to Green- 
ville, Tennessee, where he worked at his 
trade and married. Under his wife's in- 
structions he made rapid progress in his 
education, and manifested such an intelli- 
gent interest in local politics as to be 
elected as " workingmen's candidate" al- 
derman, in 1828, and mayor in 1830, being 
twice re-elected to each office. 

During this period he cultivated his tal- 
ents as a public speaker by taking part in a 



debating society, consisting largely of stu- 
dents of Greenville College. In 1835, and 
again in 1839, he was chosen to the lower 
house of the Legislature, as a Democrat. 
\n 1 841 he was elected State Senator, and 
in 1843, Representative in Congress, being 
re-elected four successive periods, until 
1853, when he was chosen Governor of 
Tennessee. In Congress he supported the 
administrations of Tyler and Polk in their 
chief measures, especially the annexation 
of Texas, the adjustment of the Oregon 
boundary, the Mexican war, and the tariff 
of 1846. 

In 1S55 Mr. Johnson was re elected Gov- 
ernor, and in 1S57 entered the United 
States Senate, wiiere he was conspicuous 
as an advocate of retrenchment and of the 
Homestead bill, and as an opponent of the 
Pacific Railroad. He was supported by the 
Tennessee delegation to the Democratic 
convention in i860 for the Presidential 
nomination, and lent his influence to the 
Breckenridge wing of that partv. 

When the election of Lincoln had 
brought about the first attempt at secession 
in December, i860, Johnson took in the 
Senate a firm attitude for the Union, and 
in May, 1861, on returning to Tennessee, 
he was in imminent peril of suffering from 



94 



PliES/DEXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



popular violence for his loyalty to the " old 
flag." He was the leader of the Loyalists' 
convention of East Tennessee, and during 
the following winter was very active in or- 
ganizing relief for the destitute loyal refu- 
gees from that region, his own family being 
among those compelled to leave. 

Bv his course in this crisis Johnson came 
prominently before the Northern public, 
and when in March, 1863, he was appointed 
bv President Lincoln military Governor of 
Tennessee, with the rank <A Brigadier-Gen- 
eral, he increased in popularity by the vig- 
orous and successful manner in v.-liich he 
labored to restore order, protect Union 
men and punish marauders. On the ap- 
proach of the Presidential campaign of 1864, 
the termination of the war being plainl}^ 
foreseen, and several Southern States being 
partially reconstructed, it was felt that the 
Vice-Presidency should be given to a South- 
ern man of conspicuous loyalty, and Gov- 
ernor Johnson was elected on the same 
platform and ticket as President Lincoln; 
and on the assassination of the latter suc- 
ceeded to the Presidenc}-, April 15, 1865. 
In a public speech two days later he said: 
"The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a 
crime and must be punished; that the Gov- 
ernment will not always bear with its ene- 
mies; that it is strong, not only to protect, 
but to punish. In our peaceful history 
treason has been almost imknown. The 
people must understand that it is the black- 
est of crimes, and will be punished." He 
then added the ominous sentence: " In re- 
gard to my future course, I make no prom- 
ises, no pledges." President Johnson re- 
tained the cabinet of Lincoln, and exhibited 
considerable severity toward traitors in his 
earlier acts and speeches, but he soon inaug- 
urated a policy of reconstruction, proclaim- 
ing a general amnesty to the late Confeder- 
ates, and successively establishing provis- 
ional Governments in the Southern States. 



These States accordingly claimed represen- 
tation in Congress in the following Decem- 
ber, and the momentous question of what 
should be the policy of the victorious Union 
toward its late armed o|)poneiits was forced 
upon that body. 

Two considerations impelled the Repub- 
lican majoritv to reject the policv of Prcsi. 
dent Johnson: First, an apprehension that 
the chief magistrate intended to undo the re- 
sults of the war in regard to slaverv; and, sec- 
ond, the sullen attitude of the South, which 
seemed to be plotting to regain the policy 
which arms had lost. The credentials of the 
Southern members elect were laid on the 
table, a civil rights bill and a bill extending 
the sphere of the Freed men's Bureau were 
passed over the executive veto, and the two 
highest branches of the Government were 
soon in open antagonism. The action of 
Congress was characterized by the Presi- 
dent as a " new rebellion." In July the 
cabinet was reconstructed, Messrs. Randall, 
Stanbury and Browning taking the places 
of Messrs. Denison, Speed and Harlan, and 
an unsuccessful attempt was made by 
means of a general convention in Philadel- 
phia to form a new party on the basis of the 
administration policy. 

In an excursion to Chicago for the pur- 
pose of laying a corner-stone of the monu- 
ment to Stephen A. Douglas, President 
Johnson, accompanied by several members 
of the cabinet, passed through Philadelphia, 
New York and Albany, in each of which 
cities, and in other places along the route, 
he made speeches justifying and explaining 
his own policy, and violently denoimcing 
the action of Congress. 

August 12, 1867, President Johnson re- 
moved the Secretary of War, replacing 
him by General Grant. Secretary Stanton 
retired under protest, based upon the ten- 
ure-of-office act which had been passed the 
preceding March. The President then is- 
sued a proclamation declaring the insurrec- 



ANDREW JOHNSON. 



95 



tion at an end, and that " peace, order, tran- 
quility and civil authority existed in and 
throughout the United States." Another 
proclamation enjoined obedience to the 
Constitution and the laws, and an amnesty 
was published September 7, relieving nearly 
all the participants in the late Rebellion 
from the disabilities thereb}' incurred, on 
condition of taking the oath to support the 
Constitution and the laws. 

In December Congress refused to confirm 
the removal of Secretary Stanton, who 
thereupon resumed the exercise of his of- 
fice; but February 21, 1868, President 
Johnson again attempted to remove him, 
appointing General Lorenzo Thomas in his 
place. Stanton refused to vacate his post, 
and was sustained by the Senate. 

February 24 the House of Representa- 
tives voted to impeach the President for 
" high crime and misdemeanors," and March 
5 presented eleven articles of impeachment 
on the ground of his resistance to the exe- 
cution of the acts of Congress, alleging, in 
addition to the offense lately committed, 
his public expressions of contempt for Con- 
gress, in " certain intemperate, inflamma- 
tory and scandalous harangues'' pronounced 
in August and September, 1866, and there- 
after declaring that the Thirty-ninth Con- 
gress of the United States was not a 
competent legislative body,_ and denying 
its power to propose Constitutional amend- 
ments. March 23 the impeachment trial 
began, the President appearing by counsel, 
and resulted in acquittal, the vote lacking 



one of the two-thirds vote required for 
conviction. 

The remainder of President Johnson's 
term of office was passed without any such 
conflicts as might have been anticipated. 
He failed to obtain a nomination for re- 
election by the Democratic party, though 
receiving sixty-five votes on the first ballot. 
July 4 and December 25 new proclamations 
of pardon to the participants in the late 
Rebellion were issuec*, but ,were of little 
effect. On the accession of General Grant 
to the Presidency, March 4, 1869, Johnson 
returned to Greenville, Tennessee. Unsuc- 
cessful in 1870 and 1872 as a candidate re- 
spectively for United States Senator and 
Representative, he was finally elected to the 
Senate in 1S75, and took his seat in the extra 
session of March, in which his speeches 
were comparatively temperate. He died 
July 31, 1875, and was buried at Green- 
ville. 

President Johnson's administration was a 
peculiarly unfortunate one. That he should 
so soon become involved in bitter feud with 
the Republican majority in Congress was 
certainly a surprising and deplorable inci- 
dent; yet, in reviewing the circumstances 
after a lapse of so many years, it is easy to 
find ample room for a charitable judgment 
of both the parties in the heated contro- 
versy, since it cannot be doubted that any 
President, even Lincoln himself, had he 
lived, must have sacrificed a large portion 
of his popularity in carrying out any pos- 
sible scheme of reconstruction. 



96 



PliLSIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




1* .^ 



ntit^wi ■■ ■ ■ 1 1 11 11 II »» ■■ 11 ji »i 11 ■! n ■■ ■■ ■! »■ »■ ij n I] ij n n n I I . 1 . .n^^.i 




LVSSES SIMPSON 
GRANT, the eight- 
eenth President of the 
United States, i%6g-jj, 
was born April 27, 1822, 
> ^^ at Point Pleasant, 
"i^ Clermont County, 
Oliio. His father was of Scotch 



descent, and a dealer in leather. 
At the age of seventeen he en- 
tered the Military Academy at 
West Point, and four years later 
graduated twenty-first in a class 
of thirty-nine, receiving the 
commission of Brevet Second 
Lieutenant. He was assigned 
to the Fourth Infantry and re- 
mained in the army eleven years. He was 
engaged in every battle of the Mexican war 
except that of Buena Vista, and received 
two brevets for gallantr}'. 

In 1848 Mr. Grant married Julia, daughter 
of Frederick Dent, a prominent merchant of 
St. Louis, and in 1854, having reached the 
grade of Captain, he resigned his commis- 
sion in the army. For several 3'ears he fol- 
lowed farming near St. Louis, but unsuc- 
cessfull}- ; and in i860 he entered the leather 
trade with his father at Galena, Illinois. 

When the civil war broke out in 1861, 
Grant was thirty-nine years of age, but en- 
tirely unknown to public men and without 



any personal acquaintance with great affairs. 
President Lincoln's first call for troops was 
made on the 15th of April, and on the 19th 
Grant was drilling a company of volunteers 
at Galena. He also offered his services to 
the Adjutant-General of the army, but re- 
ceived no reply. The Governor of Illinois, 
however, emp!o3'ed him in the organization 
of volunteer troops, and at the end of five 
weeks he was appointed Colonel of the 
Twenty-first Infantr}-. He took command 
of his regiment in June, and reported first 
to General Pope in Missouri. His superior 
knowledge of military life rather surprised 
his sujicrior officers, who had never before 
even heard of him, and they were thus led 
to place him on the road to rapid advance- 
ment. August 7 he was commissioned a 
Brigadier-General of volunteers, the ap- 
pointment having been made without his 
knowledge. He had been unanimously 
recommended by the Congressmen from 
Illinois, not one of whom had been his 
personal acquaintance. For a few weeks 
he was occupied in watching the move- 
ments of partisan forces in Missouri. 

September i he was placed in command 
of the District of Southeast Missouri, with 
headquarters at Cairo, and on the 6th, with- 
out orders, he seized Paducah, at the mouth 
of tiic Tennessee River, and commanding 
tlic navigation botli of that stream and of 




^^-'--t-^O 



ULTSSES S. GRANT. 



99 



the Ohio. This stroke secured Kentucivy 
to the Union ; for the State Legislature, 
which had until then affected to be neutral, 
at once declared in favor of the Govern- 
ment. In November following, according 
to orders, he made a demonstration about 
eighteen miles below Cairo, preventing the 
crossing of hostile troops into Missouri ; 
but in order to accomplish this purpose he 
had to do some fighting, and that, too, with 
only 3,000 raw recruits, against 7,000 Con- 
federates. Grant carried off two pieces of 
artillery and 200 prisoners. 

After repeated applications to General 
Halleck, his immediate superior, he was 
allowed, in February, 1862, to move up the 
Tennessee River against Fort Henry, in 
conjunction with a naval force. The gun- 
boats silenced the fort, and Grant immedi- 
ately made preparations to attack Fort 
Donelson, about twelve miles distant, on 
the Cumberland River. Without waiting 
for orders he moved his troops there, and 
with 15,000 men began the siege. The 
fort, garrisoned with 21,000 men, was a 
strong one, but after hard fighting on three 
successive days Grant forced an " Uncon- 
ditional Surrender" (an alliteration upon 
the initials of his name). The prize he capt- 
ured consisted of sixty-five cannon, 17,600 
small arms and 14,623 soldiers. About 4,- 
000 of the garrison had escaped in the night, 
and 2,500 were killed or wounded. Grant's 
entire loss was less than 2,000. This was the 
first important success won by the national 
troops during the war, and its strategic re- 
sults were marked, as the entire States of 
Kentucky and Tennessee at once fell into the 
National hands. Our hero was made a 
Major-General of Volunteers and placed in 
command of the District of West Ten- 
nessee. 

In March, 1862, he was ordered to move 
up the Tennessee River toward Corinth, 
where the Confederates were concentrat- 
ing a large army ; but he was directed not 



to attack. His forces, now numbering 38,- 
000, were accordingly encamped near Shi- 
loh, or Pittsburg Landing, to await the 
arrival of General Buell with 40,000 more; 
but April 6 the Confederates came out from 
Corinth 50,000 strong and attacked Grant 
violentl}-, hoping to overwhelm him before 
Buell could arrive ; 5,000 of his troops were 
be3'ond supporting distance, so that he was 
largely outnumbered and forced back to the 
river, where, however, he held out until 
dark, when the head of Buell's column 
came upon the field. The next day the 
Confederates were driven back to Corinth, 
nineteen miles. The loss was heavy on 
both sides ; Grant, being senior in rank to 
Buell, commanded on both days. Two 
days afterward Halleck arrived at the front 
and assumed command of the army. Grant 
remaining at the head of the right wing and 
the reserve. On May 30 Corinth was 
evacuated by the Confederates. In July 
Halleck was made General-in-Chief, and 
Grant succeeded him in command of the 
Department of the Tennessee. September 
19 the battle of luka was fought, where, 
owing to Rosecrans's fault, only an incom- 
plete victory was obtained. 

Next, Grant, with 30,000 men, moved 
down into Mississippi and threatened Vicks- 
burg, while Sherman, with 40,000 men, was 
sent by way of the river to attack that place 
in front ; but, owing to Colonel Murphy's 
surrendering Holly Springs to the Con- 
federates, Grant was so weakened that he 
had to retire to Corinth, and then Sherman 
failed to sustain his intended attack. 

In January, 1863, General Grant took 
command in person of all the troops in the 
Mississippi Valley, and spent several months 
in fruitless attempts to compel the surrender 
or evacuation of Vicksburg; but July 4, 
following, the place surrendered, with 31,- 
600 men and 172 cannon, and the Mississippi 
River thus fell permanently into the hands 
of the Government. Grant was made a 



PRES/DENT^i OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Major-General in the rci^iilar annv, and in 
October followiiiij lie was placed in com- 
mand of the Division o( tiic Mississippi. 
The same nioulii lie went to Cliatlanooga 
and saved the Army o( the Cumberland 
from starvation, and drove Brai;s^- from that 
part of the countr\-. This viclorv over- 
threw the last important hostile force west 
of the Alleg-hanies and opened the way for 
the National armies into Georgia and Sher- 
man's march to the sea. 

The remarkable series of successes which 
Grant had now achieved pointed him out 
as the appropriate leader of the National 
armies, and accordingly, in February, 1864, 
the rank of Lieutenant-General was created 
for him by Congress, and on March 17 he 
assumed command of the armies of the 
United States. Planning the grand final 
campaign, he sent Sherman into Georgia, 
Sigel into the valley of Virginia, and Butler 
to capture I-lichmond, while he fought his 
own way from the Rapidan to the James. 
The costly but victorious battles of the 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North ^Vnnuand 
Cold Harbor were fought, more for the 
purpose of annihilating Lee than to capture 
any particular point. In June, 1864, the 
siege of Richmond was begun. Sherman, 
meanwhile, was marching and fighting daily 
in Georgia and steadily advancing toward 
Atlanta ; but Sigel had been defeated in the 
valley of Virginia, and was superseded by 
Hunter. Lee sent Early to threaten the Na- 
tional capital ; whereupon Grant gathered 
up a force which he placed under Sheridan, 
and that commander rapidly drove Earlv, 
inasuccessionof battles, through the valley 
of Virginia and destroyed his army as an 
organized force. The siege of Richmond 
went on, and Grant made numerous attacks, 
but was only partially successful. The 
people of the North grew impatient, and 
even the Government advised him to 
abandon the attempt to take Richmond or 
crush the Confederacy in that way; but he 



never wavered. He resolved to " fight it 
out on that line, if it took all summer." 

By September Sherman had made his 
way to Atlanta, and Grant then sent him 
on his famous " march to the sea," a route 
which the chief had designed six months 
before. He made Sherman's success possi- 
ble, not only by holding Lee in front of 
Richmond, but also bv sending reinforce- 
ments to Thomas, who then drew off and 
defeated the only army which could have 
confronted Sherman. Thus the latter was 
left unopposed, and, with Thomas and Sheri- 
dan, was used in the furtherance of Grant's 
plans. Each executed his part in the great 
design and contributed his share to the re- 
sult at which Grant was aiming. Sherman 
finally reached Savannah, Schofield beat 
the enemy at Franklin, Thomas at Nash- 
ville, and Sheridan wherever he met him; 
and all this while General Grant was hold- 
ing Lee, with the principal Confederate 
army, near Richmond, as it were chained 
and helpless. Then Schofield was brought 
from the West, and Fort Fisher and Wil- 
mington were captured on the sea-coast, so 
as to afford him a foothold ; from here he 
was sent into the interior of North Cai"o- 
lina, and Sherman was ordered to move 
northward to join him. When all this was 
effected, and Sheridan could find no one else 
to fight in the Shenandoah Valley, Grant 
brought the cavalry leader to the front of 
Richmond, and, making a last effort, drove 
Lee from his entrenchments and captured 
Richmond. 

At the beginning of the final campaign 
Lee had collected 73,000 fighting men in 
the lines at Richmond, besides the local 
militia and the gunboat crews, amounting 
to 5,000 more. Including Sheridan's force 
Grant had 1 10,000 men in the works before 
Petersburg and Richmond. Petersbuig fell 
on the 2d of April, and Richmond on th.e 
3d, and Lee fled in the direction of Lynch- 
burg. Grant pursued with remorseless 



t/LrSSES S. GRANT. 



enei"gy, only stopping to strike fresh blows, 
and Lee at last found himself not only out- 
fougiit but also out-marched and out-gen- 
eraled. Being completely surrounded, he 
surrendered on the glh of April, 1865, at 
Appomattox d^urt-House, in the oyjen field, 
with 27,000 men, all that remained of his 
arm}'. This act virtually ended the war. 
Thus, in ten da\'s Grant had captured 
Petersburg and Richmond, fought, by his 
subordinates, the battles of Five Forks and 
Sailor's Creek, besides numerous smaller 
ones, captured 20,000 men in actual battle, 
and received the surrender of 27,000 more 
at Appomattox, absolutely annihilating an 
army of 70,000 soldiers. 

General Grant returned at once to Wash- 
ington to superintend the disbandment of 
the armies, but this pleasurable work was 
scarcely begun when President Lincoln was 
assassinated. It had doubtless been in- 
tended to inflict the same fate upon Grant ; 
but he, fortunately, on account of leaving 
Washington early in the evening, declined 
an invitation to accompany the President 
to the theater where the murder was com- 
mitted. This event made Andrew Johnson 
President, but left Grant by far the most 
conspicuous figure in the public life of the 
country. He became the object of an en- 
thusiasm greater than had ever been known 
in America. Every possible honor was 
heaped upon him ; the grade of General 
was created for him by Congress; houses 
were presented to him by citizens; towns 
were illuminated on his entrance into them ; 
and, to cap the climax, when he made his 
tour around the world, "all nations did him 
honor" as they had never before honored 
a foreigner. 

The General, as Commander-in-Chief, 
was placed in an embarrassing position by 
the opposition of President Johnson to the 
measures of Congress ; but he directly man- 
ifested his characteristic loyalty by obeying 
Congress rather than the disaffected Presi- 



dent, although for a short time he had 
served in his cabinet as Secretary of War. 

Of course, everybody thought of General 
Grant as the next President of the United 
States, and he was accordingly elected as 
such in 1868 "by a large majorit}'," and 
four years later re-elected by a much larger 
majority — the most overwhelming ever 
given by the people of this country. His first 
administration was distinguished by a ces- 
sation of the strifes which sprang from the 
war, by a large reduction of the National 
debt, and by a settlement of the difficulties 
with England which had grown out of the 
depredations committed by privateers fit- 
ted out in England during the war. This 
last settlement was made b}' the famous 
" Geneva arbitration," which saved to this 
Government $15,000,000, but, more than all, 
prevented a war with England. "Let us 
have peace," was Grant's motto. And this 
is the most appropriate place to remark 
that above all Presidents whom this Gov- 
ernment has ever had, General Grant was 
the most non-partisan. He regarded the 
Executive office as purely and exclusively 
executive of the laws of Congress, irrespect- 
ive of " politics." But every great man 
has jealous, bitter enemies, a fact Grant 
was well aware of. 

After the close of his Presidency, our 
General made his famous tour around the 
world, already referred to, and soon after- 
ward, in company with Ferdinand Ward, 
of New York City, he engaged in banking 
and stock brokerage, which business was 
made disastrous to Grant, as well as to him- 
self, by his rascality. By this time an in- 
curable cancer of the tongue developed 
itself in the person of the afflicted ex- 
President, which ended his unrequited life 
July 23, 1885. Thus passed away from 
earth's turmoils the man, the General, who 
was as truly the " father of this regenerated 
countr}-" as was Washington the father of 
the infant nation. 



PlfESlDENTS OF THE UNITED S7ATES. 















.V.UTHERFORD BIRCH- 
^^ ARD HAYES, the nine- 
ja^ teenth President of 
the United States, 
\8jj-'Si, was born in 
-,'%^ Delaware, Ohio, Oc- 
^''^■"^-s-^ tuber 4, 1822. His 
ancestry can be traced as far 
back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford \vere two Scottish 
chieftains fighting side by side 
with Baliol, William Wallace 
and Robert Bruce. Both fami- 
lies belonged to the nobility, 
owned extensive estates and had 
a large following. The Hayes 
family had, for a coat of-arms, a 
shield, barred and surmounted by a flying 
eagle. There was a circle of stars about 
the eagle and above the shield, while on a 
scroll underneath the shield was inscribed 
the motto, " Recte." Misfortune overtaking 
the family, George Hayes left Scotland in 
1680, and settled in Windsor, Connecticut. 
He was an industrious worker in wood and 
iron, having a mechanical genius and a cul- 
tivated mind. His son George was born 
in Windsor and remained there during his 
life. 

Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, married 
Sarah Lee, and lived in Simsburv, Con- 



necticut. Ezekiel, son of Daniel, was born 
in 1724, and was a manufacturer of scythes 
at Bradford, Connecticut. Rutherford 
Hayes, son of Ezekiel and grandfather of 
President Hayes, was born in New Haven, 
in August, 1756. He was a famous black- 
smith and tavern-keeper. He immigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in 
Brattleboro where he established a hotel. 
Here his son Rutherford, father of Presi- 
dent Hayes, was born. In September, 1813, 
he married Sophia Birchard, of Wilming- 
ton, Vermont, whose ancestry on the male 
side is traced back to 1635, to John Birch- 
ard, one of the principal founders of Nor- 
wich. Both of her grandfathers were 
soldiers in the Revolutionary war. 

The father of President Hayes was of a 
mechanical turn, and could mend a plow, 
knit a stocking, or do almost anything that 
he might undertake. He was prosperous 
in business, a member of the church and 
active in all the benevolent enterprises of 
the town. After the close of the war of 1812 
he immigrated to Ohio, and purchased a 
farm near the present town of Delaware. 
His family then consisted of his wife and 
two children, and an orphan girl whom he 
had adopted. 

It was in 1S17 that the famil}- arrived at 
Delaware. Instead of settling upon his 




s 



uA^' 



<3_.04^ 




RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 



i"5 



farm, Mr. Hayes concluded to enter into 
business in the village. He purchased an 
interest in a distillery, a business then as re- 
spectable as it was profitable. His capital 
and recognized ability assured hiin the 
highest social position in the communitv'. 
He died July 22, 1822, less than three 
months before the birth of the son that was 
destined to fill the office of President of the 
United States. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, 
and the subject of this sketch was so feeble 
at birth that he was not expected to live 
beyond a month or two at most. As the 
months went by he grew weaker and weaker 
so that the neighbors were in the habit of 
inquiring from time to time " if Mrs. 
Hayes's baby died last night." On one oc- 
casion a neighbor, who was on friendly 
terms with the famih', after alluding to the 
boy's big head and the mother's assiduous 
care of him, said to her, in a bantering wa)', 
"That's right! Stick to him. You have 
got him along so far, and I shouldn't won- 
der if he would really come to something 
yet." " You need not laugh," said Mrs. 
Hayes, " you wait and see. You can't tell 
but I shall make him President of the 
United States ^-et." 

The boy lived, in spite of the universal 
predictions of his speedy death; and when, 
in 1825, his elder brother was drowned, he 
became, if possible, still dearer to his mother. 
He was seven years old before he was 
placed in school. His education, however, 
was not neglected. His sports were almost 
wholly within doors, his plavmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circum- 
stances tended, no doubt, to foster that 
gentleness of disposition and that delicate 
consideration for the feelings of others 
which are marked traits of his character. 
At school he was ardently devoted to his 
studies, obedient to the teacher, and care- 
ful to avoid the quarrels in which many of 
his schoolmates were involved. He was 



always waiting at the school-house door 
when it opened in the morning, and never 
late in returning to his seat at recess. His 
sister Fannie was his constant companion, 
and their affection for each other excited 
the admiration of their friends. 

In 1838 3'oung Hayes entered Kenyon 
College and graduated in 1842. He then 
began the study of law in the office of 
Thomas Sparrow at Columbus. His health 
was now well established, his figure robust, 
his mind vigorous and alert. In a short 
time he determined to enter the law school 
at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where for 
two 3'ears he pursued his studies with great 
diligence. 

In 1845 he was admitted to the bar at 
Marietta, Ohio, and shortly afterward went 
into practice as an attorney-at-law with 
Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he 
remained three years, acquiring but limited 
practice, and apparently unambitious of 
distinction in his profession. His bachelor 
uncle, Sardis Birchard, who had always 
manifested great interest in his nephew and 
rendered him assistance in boyhood, was 
now a wealth}' banker, and it was under- 
stood that the young man would be his 
heir. It is possible that this expectation 
may have made Mr. Hayes more indifferent 
to the attainment of wealth than he would 
otherwise have been, but he was led into no 
extravagance or vices on this account. 

In 1849 1^6 removed to Cincinnati where 
his ambition found new stimulus. Two 
events occurring at this period had a pow- 
erful influence upon his subsequent life. 
One of them was his marriage to Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James 
Webb, of Cincinnati; the other was his 
introduction to the Cincinnati Literary 
Club, a body embracing such men as Chief 
Justice Salmon P. Chase, General John 
Pope and Governor Edward F. No3-es. 
The marriage was a fortunate one as every- 
body knows. Not one of all the wives of 



io6 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UXITED STATES. 



our Presidents was more universally ad- 
mired, reverenced and beloved than is Mrs. 
Hayes, and no one has done more than she 
to reflect honor upon American woman- 
hood. 

In 1856 Mr. Hayes was nominated to the 
office of Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas, but declined to accept the n(5mina- 
tion. Two years later he was chosen to the 
office of City Solicitor. 

In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, 
he was eager to take up arms in the defense 
of his countr}'. His military life was 
bright and illustrious. June 7, 1861, he 
was appointed Major of the Twenty-third 
Ohio Infantry. In July the regiment was 
sent to Virginia. October 15, i86r, he was 
made Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment, 
and in August, 1862, was promoted Colonel 
of the Seventy-ninth Ohio Regiment, but 
refused to leave his old comrades. He was 
wounded at the battle of South Mountain, 
and suffered severely, being unable to enter 
upon active duty for several weeks. No- 
vember 30, 1862, he rejoined his regiment as 
its Colonel, having been promoted Octo- 
ber 15. 

December 25, 1862, he was placed in com- 
mand of the Kanawha division, and for 
meritorious service in several battles was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also 
brevetted Major-General for distinguished 



services in 1864. He was wounded four 
times, and five horses were sliot from 
under him. 

Mr. Ha3'es was first a Whig in politics, 
and was among the first to unite with the 
Free-Soil and Republican parties. In 1864 
he was elected to Congress from che Sec- 
ond Ohio District, which had always beqn 
Democratic, receiving a majority of 3,098. 
In 1866 hew-as renominated for Congress 
and was a second time elected. In 1867 he 
was elected Governor over Allen G. Thur- 
maii, the Democratic candidate, and re- 
elected in 1869. In 1874 Sardis Birchard 
died, leaving his large estate to General 
Hayes. 

In 1876 he was nominated for the Presi- 
dency. His letter of acceptance excited 
the admiration of the whole country. He 
resigned the office of Governor and retired 
to his home in Fremont to await the result 
of the canvass. After a hard, long contest 
he was inaugurated March 5, 1877. His 
Presidency was characterized by compro- 
mises with all parties, in order to please as 
many as possible. The close of his Presi- 
dential term in 188 1 was the close of his 
public life, and since then he has remained 
at his home in Fremont, Ohio, in Jefferso- 
nian retirement from public notice, in strik- 
ing contrast with most others of the world's 
notables. 



yAAfES A. GARFIELD. 



109 



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f^\"i'v':^'~?i'"?'if.7*ifrt'C^ 



IW^%^-^^,^;i^T,'r.^,^^^r^r;i.'r.i.g^i 



p .I^JAAmSj 4, G ARFIEL:©,^4^ \ 




f^ 




^^■=- ^ '^^AMES A. GARFIELD, 
twentieth President of 
the United States, 1881, 
was born November 19, 
1 83 1, in tlie wild woods 
of Cuyahoga County, 
Ohio. His parents were 
Abram and EHza (Ballou) 
Garfield, who were of New 
- England ancestry. The 
senior Garfield was an in- 
"" dustrious farmer, as the 
rapid improvements which 
appeared on his place at- 
tested. The residence was 
the familiar pioneer log cabin, 
and the household comprised the parents 
and their children — Mehetable, Thomas, 
Mary and James A. In May, 1833, the 
father died, and the care of the house- 
hold consequently devolved upon young 
Thomas, to whom James was greatly in- 
debted for the educational and other ad- 
vantages he enjoyed. He now lives in 
Michigan, and the two sisters live in Solon, 
Ohio, near their birthplace. 

As the subject of our sketch grew up, he, 
too, was industrious, both in mental and 
physical labor. He worked upon the farm, 
or at carpentering, or chopped wood, or at 
any other odd job that would aid in support 
of the family, and in the meantime made the 



most of his books. Ever afterward he was 
never ashamed of his humble origin, nor for- 
got the friends of his youth. The poorest 
laborer was sure of his sympathy, and he 
always exhibited the character of a modest 
gentleman. 

Until he was about sixteen years of age, 
James's highest ambition was to be a lake 
captain. To this his mother was strongly 
opposed, but she finally consented to his 
going to Cleveland to carry out his long- 
cherished design, with the understanding, 
however, that he should try to obtain some 
other kind of employment. He walked all 
the way to Cleveland, and this was his first 
visit to the city. After making man}' ap- 
plications for work, including labor on 
board a lake vessel, but all in vain; he 
finally engaged as a driver for his cousin, 
Amos Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsyl- 
vania Canal. In a short time, however, he 
quit this and returned home. He then at- 
tended the seminary at Chester for about 
three years, and next he entered Hiram In- 
stitute, a school started in 1850 by the 
Disciples of Christ, of which church he was 
a member. In order to pa}' his way he 
assumed the duties of janitor, and at tmies 
taught school. He soon completed the cur- 
riculum there, and then entered Williams 
College, at which he graduated in 1856, 
taking one of the highest honors of his class. 



PRESIDEXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Afterward he returned to Hiram as Presi- 
dent. In hisyouthful and therefore zealous 
piety, he exercised his talents occasionally 
as a preacher of the Gospel. He was a 
man of strong moral and religious convic- 
tions, and as soon as he began to look into 
politics, he saw innumerable points that 
could be improved. He also studied law, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1859. 
November 11, 1858, Mr. Garfield married 
Miss Lucretia Rudolph, who ever after- 
ward proved a worthy consort in all the 
stages of her husband's career. They had 
seven children, five of whom are still liviii<r. 

It was in 1859 '^''''^ Garfield made his 
first political speeches, in Hiram and the 
neighboring villages, and three years later 
he began to speak at county mass-meetings, 
being received everywhere with popular 
favor. He was elected to the State Senate 
this year, taking his seat in Januar}-, i860. 

On the breaking out of the war of the 
Rebellion in 1861, Mr. Garfield resolved to 
fight as he had talked, and accordingly he 
enlisted to defend the old flag, receiving 
his commission as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Forty-second Regiment of the Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry, August 14, that year. He 
was immediately thrown into active service, 
and before he had ever seen a gun fired in 
action he was placed in command of four 
regiments of infantry and eight companies 
of cavalry, charged with the work of driv- 
ing the Confederates, headed by Humphrey 
Marshall, from his native State, Kentucky. 
This task was speedily accomplished, al- 
though against great odds. On account of 
his success. President Lincoln commissioned 
him Brigadier-General, January 11, 1862; 
and, as he had been the youngest man in 
the Ohio Senate two years before, so now 
he was the youngest General in the army. 
He was with General Buell's army at Shi- 
loh, also in its operations around Corinth 
and its march through Alabama. Next, he 
was detailed as a member of the general 



court-martial for the trial of General Fitz- 
John Porter, and then ordered to report to 
General Rosectans, when he was assigned 
to the position of Chief of Staff. His mili- 
tary history closed with his brilliant ser- 
vices at Chickamauga, where he won the 
stars of Major-General. 

In the fall of 1862, without any effort on 
his part, he was elected as a Representative 
to Congress, from that section of Ohio 
which had been represented for sixty years 
mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and 
Joshua R. Giddings. Again, he was the 
youngest member of that body, and con- 
tinued there by successive re-elections, as 
Representative or Senator, until he was 
elected President in 1880. During his life 
in Congress he compiled and published by 
his speeches, there and elsewhere, more 
information on the issues of the day, espe- 
cially on one side, than any other member. 

June 8, 1880, at the National Republican 
Convention held in Chicago, General Gar- 
field was nominated for the Presidency, in 
preference to the old war-horses, Blaine 
and Grant ; and although many of the Re- 
publican party felt sore over the failure of 
their respective heroes to obtain the nomi- 
nation. General Garfield was elected by a 
fair popular majority. He was duly in- 
augurated, but on July 2 following, before 
he had fairly got started in his administra- 
tion, he was fatally shot by a half-dcmcnted 
assassin. After ver}- painful and protracted 
suffering, he died September 19, 1881, la- 
mented by all the American people. Never 
before in the history of this country had 
anything occurred which so nearly froze 
the blood of the Nation, for the moment, as 
the awful act of Guiteau, the murderer. 
He was duly tried, convicted and put to 
death on the gallows. 

The lamented Garfield was succeeded by 
the Vice-President, General Arthur, who 
seemed to endeavor to carry out the policy 
inaugurated by his predecessor. 



CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



"3 





HESTER ALLEN 
ARTHUR, the twen- 
ty-first Chief Execu- 
tive of this growing 
republic, i88i-'5, was 
born in FrankHn 
C o u n t y , Vermont, 
October 5, 1830, the eldest of a 
family of two sons and five 
daughters. His father, Rev. 
Dr. William Arthur, a Baptist 
clergyman, immigrated to this 
country from County Antrim, 
Ireland, in his eighteenth year, 
and died in 1875, in Newton- 
ville, near Albany, New York, 
after serving manv years as a successful 
minister. Chester A. was educated at that 
old, conservative institution. Union Col- 
lege, at Schenectady, New York, where he 
excelled in all his studies. He graduated 
there, with honor, and then struck out in 
life for himself by teaching school for about 
two years in his native State. 

At the expiration of that time young 
Arthur, with $500 in his purse, went to the 
city of New York and entered the law office 
of ex-Judge E. D. Culver as a student. In 
due time he was admitted to the bar, when 
he formed a partnership with his intimate 



friend and old room-mate, Henry D. Gar- 
diner, with the intention of practicing law 
at some point in the West ; but after spend- 
ing about three months in the Westen. 
States, in search of an eligible place, they 
returned to New York City, leased a room, 
exhibited a sign of their business and al- 
most immediately enjoyed a paying patron- 
age. 

At this stage of his career Mr. Arthur's 
business prospects were so encouraging 
that he concluded to take a wife, and ac- 
cordingl}' he married the daughter of Lieu- 
tenant Herndon, of the United States Navy, 
who had been lost at sea. To the widow 
of the latter Congress voted a gold medal> 
in recognition of the Lieutenant's bravery 
during the occasion in which he lost his 
life. Mrs. Artaur died shortly before her 
husband's nomination to the Vice-Presi- 
dency, leaving two children. 

Mr. Arthur obtained considerable celeb- 
rity as an attorney in the famous Lemmon 
suit, which was brought to recover posses- 
sion of eight slaves, who had been declared 
free by the Superior Court of New York 
City. The noted Charles O'Conor, who 
was nominated by the " Straight Demo- 
crats" in 1872 for the United States Presi- 
dency, was retained by Jonathan G. Lem- 



114 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



mon, of Virginia, to recover the negroes, 
but he lost the suit. In this case, however, 
Mr. Arthur was assisted by William M. 
Evarts, now United States Senator. Soon 
afterward, in 1856, a respectable colored 
woman was ejected from a street car in 
New York City. Mr. Arthur sued the car 
company in her behalf and recovered $500 
damages. Immediately afterward all the 
car companies in the city issued orders to 
their employes to admit colored persons 
upon their cars. 

Mr. Arthur's political doctrines, as well 
as his practice as a lawyer, raised him to 
prominence in the party of freedom ; and 
accordingly he was sent as a delegate to 
the first National Republican Convention. 
Soon afterward he was appointed Judge 
Advocate for the Second Brigade of the 
State of New York, and then Engineer-in- 
Chief on Governor Morgan's staff. In 1861, 
the first year of the war, he was made In- 
spector-General, and ne.Kt, Quartermaster- 
General, in both which offices he rendered 
great service to the Government. Alter 
the close of Governor Morgan's term he 
resumed the practice of law, forming first a 
partnership with Mr. Ransom, and subse- 
quently adding Mr. Phelps to the firm. 
Each of these gentlemen were able lawyers. 

November 21, 1872, General Arthur was 
appointed Collector of the Port of New 
York by President Grant, and he held the 
office until July 20, 1878. 

The next event of prominence in General 
Arthur's career was his nomination to the 
Vice-Presidency of the United States, under 
the influence of Roscoe Conkling, at the 
National Republican Convention held at 
Chicago in June, 1880, when James A. Gar- 
field was placed at the head of the ticket. 
Both the convention and the campaign that 
followed were noisy and exciting. The 
friends of Grant, constituting nearly half 



the convention, were exceedingly persist- 
ent, and were sorely disappointed over 
their defeat. At the head of the Demo- 
cratic ticket was placed a very strong and 
popular man ; yet Garfield and Arthur were 
elected by a respectable plurality of the 
popular vote. The 4th of March following, 
these gentlemen were accordingly inaugu- 
rated ; but within four months the assassin's 
bullet made a fatal wound in the person of 
General Garfield, whose life terminated 
September 19, 1881, when General Arthur, 
ex officio, was obliged to take the chief 
reins of government. Some misgivings 
were entertained by many in this event, as 
Mr. Arthur was thought to represent espe 
cially the Grant and Conkling wing of the 
Republican party ; but President Arthur 
had both the ability and the good sense to 
allay all fears, and he gave the restless, 
critical American people as good an ad- 
ministration as they had ever been blessed 
with. Neither selfishness nor low parti- 
sanism ever characterized any feature of 
his public service. He ever maintained a 
high sense of every individual right as well 
as of the Nation's honor. Indeed, he stood 
so high that his successor. President Cleve- 
land, though of opposing politics, expressed 
a wish in his inaugural address that he 
could only satisfy the people with as good 
an administration. 

But the day of civil service reform had 
come in so far, and the corresponding re- 
action against " third-termism" had en- 
croached so far even upon "second-term" 
service, that the Republican party saw fit 
in 1884 to nominate another man for Presi- 
dent. Only by this means was General 
Arthur's tenure of office closed at Wash- 
ington. On his retirement from the Presi- 
dency, March, 1885, he engaged in the 
practice of law at New York City, where be 
died Koveinher 18, 1886. 




^ 



r 



G ROVER CLEVELAND. 



117 



":i«: 



^^^Ms 



^^^^ 








ROVER CLEVE- 
LAND, the twenty- 
second President of the 
United States, 1885—, 
was born in Caldwell, 
Essex County, New 

W ^ Jersey, March 1 8, 

1837. The house in which he 
was born, a small two-story 
wooden building, is still stand- 
ing. It was the parsonage of 
the Presbyterian church, of 
which his father, Richard 
Cleveland, at the time was 
pastor. The family is of New 
England origin, and for two centuries has 
contributed to the professions and to busi- 
ness, men who have reflected honor on the 
name. Aaron Cleveland, Grover Cleve- 
land's great-great-grandfather, was born in 
Massachusetts, but subsequently moved to 
Philadelphia, where he became an intimate 
friend of Benjamin Franklin, at whose 
house he died. He left a large family of 
children, who in time married and settled 
in different parts of New England. A 
grandson was one of the small American 
force that fought the British at Bunker 
Hill. He served with gallantry through- 
out the Revolution and was honorably 
discharged at its close as a Lieutenant in 
the Continental army. Another grandson, 
William Cleveland (a son of a second Aaron 



as a 



Cleveland, who was distinguished 
writer and member of the Connecticut 
Legislature) was Grover Cleveland's grand- 
father. William Cleveland became a silver- 
smith in Norwich, Connecticut. He ac- 
quired by industry some property and sent 
his son, Richard Cleveland, the father of 
Grover Cleveland, to Yale College, where 
he graduated in 1 824. During a year spent 
in teaching at Baltimore, Maryland, after 
graduation, he met and fell in love with a 
Miss Annie Neale, daughter of a wealthy 
Baltimore book publisher, of Irish birth. 
He was earning his own way in the world 
at the time and was unable to marry; but 
in three years he completed a course of 
preparation for the ministry, secured a 
church in Windham, Connecticut, and 
married Annie Neale. Subsequently he 
moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, where he 
preached for nearly two years, when he 
was summoned to Caldwell, New Jersey, 
where was born Grover Cleveland. 

When he was three years old the family 
moved to Fayetteville, Onondaga County, 
New York. Here Grover Cleveland lived 
until he was fourteen years old, the rugged, 
healthful life of a country boy. His frank, 
generous manner made him a favorite 
among his companions, and their respect 
was won by the good qualities in the germ 
which his manhood developed. He at- 
tended the district school of the village and 



ti8 



P/iES/DENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



was for a short time at the academy. His 
lather, however, believed that bo3's should 
be taught to labor at an early age, and be- 
fore he had completed the course of study 
at the academy he began to work in the 
village store at $50 for the first year, and the 
promise of $100 for the second year. His 
work was well done and the promised in- 
crease of pay was granted the second year. 
Meanwhile his father and family had 
moved to Clinton, the seat of Hamilton 
College, where his father acted as agent to 
the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions, 
preaching in the churches of the vicinity. 
Hither Grover came at his father's request 
shortly after the beginning of his second 
year at the Fayetteville store, and.resumed 
his studies at the Clinton Academy. After 
three years spent in this town, the Rev. 
Richard Cleveland was called to the vil- 
lage church of Holland Patent. He had 
preached here only a month when he was 
suddenly stricken down and died without 
an hour's warning. The death of the father 
left the family in straitened circumstances, 
as Richard Cleveland had spent all his 
salary of $1,000 per year, which was not 
required for the necessary expenses of liv- 
ing, upon the education of his children, of 
whom there were nine, Grover being the 
fifth. Grover was hoping to enter Hamil- 
ton College, but the death of his father 
made it necessary for him to earn his own 
livelihood. For the first year (1853-4) lie 
acted as assistant teacher and bookkeeper in 
the Institution for the Blind in New York 
City, of which the late Augustus Schell was 
for many years the patron. In the winter 
of 1854 he returned to Holland Patent 
where the generous people of that place,' 
Fayetteville and Clinton, had purchased a 
home for his mother, and in the following 
spring, borrowing $25, he set out for the 
West to earn his living. 

Reaching Buffalo he paid a hasty visit to 
an uncle, Lewis F. Allen, a well-known 



stock farmer, living at Black Rock, a tew 
miles distant. He communicated his plans 
to Mr. Allen, who discouraged the idea of 
the West, and finall}- induced the enthusi- 
astic boy of seventeen to remain with him 
and help him prepare a catalogue of blooded 
short-horn cattle, known as " Allen's Amer- 
ican Herd Book," a publication familiar to 
all breeders of cattle. In August, 1855, he 
entered the law office of Rogers, Bowen 
tS: Rogers, at Buffalo, and after serving a 
few months without pay, was paid $4 a 
week — an amount barely sufficient to meet 
the necessary expenses of his board in the 
family of a fellow-student in Buffalo, with 
whom he took lodgings. Life at this time 
with Grover Cleveland was a stern battle 
with the world. He took his breakfast by 
candle-light with the drovers, and went at 
once to the office where the whole day was 
spent in work and stud}-. Usually he re- 
turned again at night to resume reading 
which had been interrupted by the duties 
of the day. Gradually his employers came 
to recognize the ability, trust worthinesb 
and capacity for hard work in their young 
employe, and by the time he was admitted 
to the bar (1859) he stood high in their con- 
fidence. A year later he was made confi- 
dential and managing clerk, and in the 
course of three 3ears more his salary had 
been raised to $1,000. In 1863 he was ap- 
pointed assistant district attorney of Erie 
County by the district attorney, the Hon. 
C. C. Torrance. 

Since his first vote had been cast in 1858 
he had been a staunch Democrat, and until 
he was chosen Governor he always made 
it his duty, rain or shine, to stand at the 
polls and give out ballots to Democratic 
voters. During the first year of his term 
as assistant district attorney, the Democrats 
desired especiall}' to carry the Board of Su- 
pervisors. The old Second Ward in which 
he lived was Republican- ordinarily by 250 
majority, but at the urgent request of the 



GRO VEIi CL E V ELAND. 



"9 



party Grover Cleveland consented to be 
the Democratic candidate for Supervisor, 
dnd came within thirteen votes of an elec- 
tion. The three years spent in the district 
attorney's office were devoted to assiduous 
labor and the extension of his professional 
attainments. He then formed a law part- 
nership with the late Isaac V. Vanderpoel, 
ex-State Treasurer, under the firm name 
of Vanderpoel & Cleveland. Here the bulk 
of the work devolved on Cleveland's shoul- 
ders, and he soon won a good standing at 
the bar of Erie County. In 1869 Mr. 
Cleveland formed a partnership with e.x- 
Senator A. P. Laning and ex-Assistant 
United States District Attorney Oscar Fol- 
som, under the firm name of Laning, Cleve- 
land & Folsom. During these years he 
began to earn a moderate professional in- 
come; but the larger portion of it was sent 
to his mother and sisters at Holland Patent 
to whose support he had contributed ever 
since i860. He served as sheriff of Erie 
County, i870-'4, and then resumed the 
practice of law, associating himself with the 
Hon. Lyman K. Bass and Wilson S. Bissell. 



The firm was strong and popular, and soon 
commanded a large and lucrative practice. 
Ill health forced the retirement of Mr. Bass 
in 1879, ^"d the firm became Cleveland & 
Bissell. In 1881 Mr. George J. Sicard was 
added to the firm. 

In the autumn election of 1881 he was 
elected mayor of Buffalo by a majority of 
over 3,500 — the largest majority ever given 
a candidate for mayor — and the Democratic 
city ticket was successful, although the 
Republicans carried Buffalo by over 1,000 
majority for their State ticket. Grover 
Cleveland's administration as mayor fully 
justified the confidence reposed in him by 
the people of Buffalo, evidenced by the 
great vote he received. 

The Democratic State Convention met 
at Syracuse, September 22, 1882, and nomi- 
nated Grover Cleveland for Governor 
on the third ballot and Cleveland was 
elected by 192,000 majoritv. ' In the fall of 
1 884 he was elected President of the United 
States by about 1,000 popular majority, 
in New York State, and he was accordingly 
inaugurated the 4th of March following. 






.vj«^^ 



>V 



HISTORY 



-OK- 



<x1MINNESOTA> 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



CHAPTER I. 




LOCATION, TOPOGRAPHY AND GENERAL REMARKS. 



INNESOTA is located in the 
geographical center of the con- 
tinent of North America — mid- 
way between the Atlantic and 
Pacific Oceans, and also midway 
between Hudson's Baj' and the 
Gulf of Mexico. It embraces 
territory extending from latitude 
43 degrees 50 minutes, to 49 de- 
grees, and from 89 degrees 29 
minutes to 97 degrees 5 minutes 
west longitude. As to its area, 
it can only be estimated, as portions of the 
State are as yet unsurveyed ; but as near as 
can be arrived at, the area is 85,531 square 
miles, or about 53,760,000 acres. In size 
Minnesota is the fourth State in the Union. 
From its southern boundary to the northern 
is about 4()0 miles, and from the most east- 
ern to tiie extreme western point about 354 
miles. In altitude it appears to l)e one of 
the highest portions of the continent, as the 
headwaters of tlie three great river systems' 
are foun<l in its limits — those of streams 
flowing northward to Hudson's Bay, east- 
ward to the Atlantic Ocean, and southward 
to the Gulf of Mexico. 

Nearly three-quarters .of the surface of the 
State is made up of rolling prairie, inter- 
sjiersed with frequent groves, oak openings 
and belts of hardwood timber, watered by 
numerous lakes and streams, and covered 
with a warm, dark soil of great fertility. 
The balance, embracing the elevated district 



immediately west of Lake Superior, consists 
mainly of the rich mineral ranges on its 
shores, and of the pine forests which extend 
over the upper Mississippi country, affording 
extensive supplies of timber. But a very 
small portion is broken, rocky or worthless 
land ; nearly all is arable. But few States 
are so well watered as Minnesota, and the 
numerous rivers and water-courses give ex- 
cellent drainage. A number of the rivers — 
the Mississippi, the Minnesota, the St. Croix, 
the St. Louis, the Red and the Red Lake riv- 
ers — are navigable, and nearly all of the 
balance afford water power. The lakes of 
Minnesota are among its principal ])hysical 
characteristics. The estimate of 10,000 lakes 
in the State is not an unreasonable one. 

With all these natural advantages, favor- 
able climate and rich soil, Minnesota has 
become one of the most successful agricult- 
ural States in the Union, and stock-i-aising 
and dairying is rapidly becoming a leading 
industry. Lumbering is also carried on very 
extensive!}', and the manufacturing branch 
is rapidly becoming large. While at first it 
was supposed that this State was destitute 
of valuable minerals, recent discoveries prove 
to the contrary. Inexhaustible sujiplies of 
the best iron ore exist, and are now being 
mined and exported in large quantities. Sil- 
ver veins have also been found near the 
boundary line ; copper ore has also been 
found, and it is known that plumbago and 
gold quartz exist. Building material, gran- 



124 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



ite, brownstone, limestone, sandstone and 
brick and ])otter's clay are abundant. 

A few words as to railroads and history 
relating to tlieir construction will also be 
interesting. Twenty-five years ago (1802), 
there were only ten miles of railway in 
operation in the State. At the close of 1885 
there were 0,721 miles in operation. The 
general government has granted to railroads 
within this State 12,151,527 acres of land, 
and the State has given 1,811,750 acres of 
swamp and other lands, making a total of 
13,933,277 acres of land within the State 
given to railroads, valued on the average at 
$5 per acre, making $09,000,385 thus given. 
In addition, local, county and State bonds 
have been given them amounting to over 
$0,080,000, making in lands and cash a total 
gift of $70,490,385, or about $19,345 for 



every mile completed. There is material in 
these facts for an extended political essay, 
and they certainly furnish food for thought. 

In concluding these general remarks it 
may justly be h:aid that the outlook for the 
State is most gratifying. Its population is 
raj)id]y increasing, and its taxable wealth 
increasing in similar ratio. Every year sees 
an enormous area of its rich soil brought 
under cultivation, while there are still mill- 
ions of acres awaiting the plow of the set- 
tler. 

The following table of census returns will 
show the growth of the State as to popula- 
tion: 1850, population 0,077; 1860, popula- 
tion 172,023; 1805, population 250,099 ; 1870, 
population 439,700; 1875, population 597, 
407; 1880, population 780,773, and in 1885 
the population was 1,117,798. 




CHAPTER II. 




HISTORY OF MINNESOTA — FROM 1660 TO 1887. 



tIE first exploration bywhites of 
the territory which now com- 
prises the State of Minnesota 
dates back early into the seven- 
teenth century. It is claimed 
by good authorit}' that Jean 
Nicolet (pronounced Nicolay), 
one of Champlain's interpreters, 
was the first to spread knowl- 
edge of the country west of Lake Michigan. 
As early as 1635 he set foot upon the 
western shores of Lake Michigan, and traded 
near Green Bay, also roaming over various 
portions of Wisconsin at about that time. 
In December of the same year he returned 
to Canada. It is very doubtful whether 
Nicolet ever set foot on Minnesota soil, 
although it is certain that his visit to the 
countr}'^ Avest of Lake Michigan was the 
means of spreading knowledge of this 
country, and of the aborigines of Minnesota. 
It was said of him that he penetrated far 
distant countries, and in a letter bearing 
date of 1640, it is stated that "if he had 
proceeded three days more on a river which 
flows from that lake (Green Bay), he would 
have found the sea." The death of this 
explorer occurred at Three Rivers in 164-0. 

After Nicolet's visit to Wisconsin, for a 
quarter of a century history brings no trace 
of any explorations concerning this region. 
At the end of this time, in 1660, the first 
white men of whom there is any reliable 
record, set foot on Minnesota soil. They 
were Medard Chouart, called Groselliers, 
and Pierre d'Esprit, who was known as Sieur 
Radisson. Both Avere Frenchmen who had 
come to Canada when young men to engage 



in the fur trade. About the middle of that 
century several important changes had been 
made in the location of Indian tribes. The 
Ilurons and their allies, the Ottawas, after 
successive battles, had drifted to the west of 
Lake Michigan. In former times they had 
been located in the St. Lawrence region. 
Finally reaching the Mississippi they found 
the Iowa River. Later, returning to the 
Mississippi, they settled upon an island in 
the river near where the city of Hastings 
is now located ; but becoming involved in 
battles with the Sioux, we finally find the 
Ilurons located about the headwaters of 
the Chippeway, and the Ottawas on the 
shores of Lake Superior, near Avhere Bay- 
field is now situated. It was to trade with 
the Indians that the two Frenchmen men- 
tioned, Groselliers and Radisson, made their 
trip to this wild region. They passed the 
winter of 1659-60 among the Sioux villages 
in the Mille Lacs country, and the following 
spring and summer was spent in the region 
of Lake Superior. In August, 1660, they 
returned to Montreal, and their report of the 
country they had visited created much ex- 
citement. Within a few weeks an exploring 
and trading party was formed, and accom- 
panied by six Frenchmen and two priests, 
one of whom was the Jesuit, Rene Menard, 
they again started westward, and on the 
15th of October, 1660, the}^ reached the 
Ottawa settlement on the shores of Lake 
Superior. The objects of this party were 
various, some bent on exploration, others 
on trading, while Father Menard went as 
a missionary. Groselliers (pronounced Gro- 
say-vfi) and Radisson, accompanied by others, 



126 



J//STOKY OF MINNESOTA. 



pusiied on through the country to the 
noi'tliwest of Lake Sujierior anil at length 
reached Hudson's Bay. They returned 
to Montreal in May, 16G2. The names 
of all the members of this party have 
not been preserved. Groselliers and Uad 
isson proceeded to Paris, thence to Lon- 
don, where they were well received by 
the nobility and scientific men. A vessel 
was litted out and placed at their disposal, 
in the hope of finding a northwest passage 
to Asia. In June, 1G6S, they left England 
and made an extended voyage, reaching a 
tributar\^ of Hudson's Baj' and returning to 
England, where, in 1670, the famous trading- 
corporation, the " Hudson's Bay Company," 
was chartered. 

Now to return to the venerable Father 
Menard, who had been left among the Ottawa 
Indians on the shores of Lake Superior in 
October, 1600. For nearly a year he lived 
there in a cabin built of fir branches. In 
the summer of 1661 he decided to visit the 
Ilurons, who had fled eastward from the 
Sioux of Minnesota and were located among 
the woods of northern "Wisconsin, as stated. 
He was accompanied by one Frenchman, 
whose name has been lost in the mist of 
years. They became separated, and Father 
Menard was lost, as Perrot says, ''in the 
labyrinth of trees." This was the last ever 
positively known of him, although his brevi- 
ai'y and cassock were said afterward to 
have been found among the Sioux Indians. 
Whether this good and venerable man 
starved or was murdered or captured by the 
Indians will forever be shrouded in mystery. 

These were the earliest explorations of the 
Northwest of which any record has been left, 
but after that period this region was visited 
by various parties at long intervals, and 
many interesting documents have been pre- 
served giving accounts of their journeys and 
discoveries. 

About the j'ear 1665 several French trad- 



ers and the Jesuit, Allouez, visited the coun- 
try off the western shore of Lake Superior. 
Early in 1679 we find Daniel G. Du Luth 
west of Lake Michigan, and it is believed he 
planted the Fi-ench arms on Minnesota soil. 
His records state that "on July 2(1 he caused 
his Majesty's arms to be planted inthegreat 
village of the Nadousioux. called Kathio, 
and at Songaskicous and ILnietbatons, one 
hundred and twenty leagues distant from 
the former." Pev. E. D. Neill in his 
tiiorough work relating to early explorers of 
Minnesota, locates this as being "one hun- 
dred and twenty leagues beyond Mille 
Lacs." Du Luth states that at one point on 
Minnesota soil he found upon a tree this 
legend : " Arms of the King c«t on this tree 
in the year 1679." He established several 
posts, carried on trading with the Indians, 
and was probably the most prominent of 
the early explorers. Later he was stationed 
near Lake Erie and died in 1710. His 
reports furnish much interesting information 
regarding the early explorations in the 
Xorthwest. 

La Salle Avas given a commission by the 
King of France in 167S to "explore the 
AVest," and do limited trading. He visited 
various parts of the Northwest. His jeal- 
ousy of Du Luth appears to form a consider- 
able portion of his official reports, but it is 
stated on good authority that he wrote the 
first description of the upper Mississippi 
Valley, August 22, 1682, some months before 
the publication of Father Hennepin's first 
work, "Description de la Louisiane." He 
must, however, have obtained his information 
from one of Hennepin's men. 

Father Louis Hennepin's explorations and 
atl ventures through the Northwest form an 
interesting cha]iter in the earlier history of 
this region. He was a native of Ath, an in- 
land town of the Netherlands, and had early 
rssumed the robes of ]iriesthood. In 1676 
he came to Canada, and two vears later "vas 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



127 



ordered to join the La Salle exploring expe- 
dition. A ship was rigged, and on August 
7th, 1679, its sails caught the breezes of 
Lake Erie — the first European vessel 
launched on the great lakes. La Salle con- 
ducted his expedition to Green Bay, thence 
along the coast of Lake Michigan, and about 
the middle of January', 1080, landed it on an 
eminence near Lake Peoria, on the Illinois 
River, where he commenced the erection of 
Fort Crevecffiur. On the last of February of 
the same year, Father Hennepin, in company 
with Michael Accault (Ako) and Angelle, 
left the fort to ascend the Mississippi River. 
On the 11th of April, 16S0, after having 
reached a point north of the Chippewa River, 
they wei-e met and taken charge of by a 
party of over a liundi'cd Sioux Indians. They 
then proceeded witli tlis Indians to their 
villages, nearly sixty leagues north of St. An- 
thony falls. The}' remained with the Indians 
some time, being well treated, and on the 
2.5th of July, 1G80, they were met by Du 
Luth, who was accompanied by his interpre- 
ter, Faff art, and several French soldiers. 
They then proceeded to Mille Lacs, arriving, 
according to Father's Hennepin writings, on 
the nth of August, 1G80. In the latter part 
of September they started to return to the 
French settlement, passing by St. Anthony 
falls. Father Hennepin published two works 
relating to his discoveries, the first, " De- 
scription de la Louisiane," in 1836; the sec- 
ond, " The JSTew Discovery," in 1697. These 
works called forth much criticism, as there 
can be no doubt Hennepin greatly magnified 
his own importance, and exaggerated his 
services and discoveries. For instance, he 
claims to have descended the Mississippi 
River to the Gulf of IMexico, before proceed- 
ing northward, then returned and proceeded 
on to the St. Anthony falls. This in the face 
of his own stated facts — leaving FortCreve- 
coeur the last of February, he claims to have 
made this wonderful trip, and arrived two 



miles south of where the city of St. Paul is 
now located, late in April, giving the 11th 
of April as the date of their capture by the 
Indians. However this may be, Father 
Hennepin's work was not in vain, and his 
memory is entitled to the credit for that 
which he did. His publications hastened and 
facilitated exploration, and his failing — if 
such it was — should be treated with charity. 
La Salle speaks of him highly, but charitably 
says, " it was his failing to magnify those 
adventures which concerned him." 

During 1684, Nicholas Perrot and Le 
Sueur visited Lake Pepin, and the following 
winter the French traded with the Indians 
on Minnesota soil. Perrot had been ap- 
])ointed l)y the governor of Canada as the 
commandant for the "West, and was accom- 
panied by twenty men. Upon his arrival he 
caused a stockade to be built on the east 
bank of Lake Pepin, which bore his name 
for many years. He discovered a number of 
lead mines, and his name figures conspicu- 
ously in the history of the early French ex- 
plorations and frontier Avoik. Perrot re- 
mained for some time after building the fort, 
then, in 1686, returned to Green Bay. He 
passed much time in collecting allies for the 
expedition against the Iroquois in New Yoi'k, 
and in the spring of 16S7, was with DuLuth 
and.Tonty with the French and Indian allies 
in the expedition against the Senecas of the 
Genesee Valley in New York. The follow- 
ing j'ear lie was sent with a company of 
Frenchmen to reoccupy the post on Lake 
Pepin, in Minnesota, and it was in 1689 tiiat 
Perrot, in tiie presence of Father Juse]ih 
James Marest, a. Jesuit, Boisguiblot, a trader 
on the Wisconsin and Mississip]ii, and Le 
Seur, made a formal record of taking posses- 
sion of the Sioux country in the name of the 
King of France. 

Le Sueur, who accompanied Perrot in his 
first trip to Lake Pepin in 1684, was inti- 
mately connected witli that explorer's move- 



128 



HISTORY OF MIXXESOTA. 



iiicnts. In 1G92 Le Sueur was sent by Gov. 
Fi'oiUenac, of Canada, to the extremity 
of Lake Superior to maintain ])eace between 
tlie Indian tribes. Entering- tlie Sioux 
country, in 1094, lie established a jiostupon a 
prairie island, nine miles below where Hast- 
ings is now located. lie v.is acconijianied 
by Peiiicaut and others. Here they estab- 
lished a fort and storehouse and ]nissed the 
winter, as game was veiy abundant. On 
July 15, 1G95, Le Sueur went back to Mon- 
treal accompanied by a ]mrty of Ojibways, 
and the first Dakotah brave that ever visited 
Canada. Le Sueur then visited France, and 
in 1697 received a license to open certain 
mines that were supposed to e*xist in Minne- 
sota. The ship in which he was returning 
was captured by the English, and lie was 
taken to England ; when released he returned 
to France and secured a new commission, but 
it was afterward susjiended. Fortunately, 
D'llberville, a kinsman of Le Sueur, was ap- 
pointed governor of the new territory of 
Louisiana, and in December, 1G99, Le Sueur 
arrived from France with thirty workmen 
to proceed to the mines. During the next 
year he ascended the Minnesota Kiver with 
his expedition, and in October, 1700, built a 
fort on the Blue Earth Eiver, which he 
named L'lluillier. This was occupied by 
Le Sueur's men until 1702, when it ■n'as 
abandoned because of the hostility of the 
Indians. Charlevoix, who visited the val- 
ley of the lower Mississippi in 1 722, says that 
" Le Sueur spent at least one winter in his 
fort on the banks of the Blue Earth, and 
that in the fulhjwing April he went up to the 
mine, about a mile above, and in twenty-two 
days they obtained more than .^0.000 jiounds 
of the substance — lead." Le Sueur estimated 
the Sioux Indians at that time as being 
four thousand families. 

In 1703 a little volume was published in 
France and England by Baron La Ilon- 
tan, giving an account of his "travels," in 



which he claimed to have iirnetrated and 
pursued exj)lorations through the territory 
which now "orms ^linnesota, farther tlian 
any of hi' predecessors. He states tliat he 
found a river tributary to the Mississippi, 
and describes a journey of 500 miles up this 
stream, which he named Long TJiver. His 
wontlerful story was believed at the time 
and the river was placed upon the early 
maps; but in later years it was discredited 
and is now by the closest students and ablest 
historians treated as fabulous. 

In September, 1727, Fort Beauharnois was 
erected and a French post established on the 
shores of Lake Pepin, under the directions of 
Sieur de la Perriere. An extensive trade 
Avas carried on with the Indians here, and it 
was occupied for a number of years. In 172S 
Veranderie, who had been ])laced in com- 
mand of a post on Lake Xe]"t:gon, began lay- 
ing plans for finding a co- .munication with 
the Pacific Ocean. An expedition was fitted 
out which left Montreal in 1731, under the 
management of his sons and a ne})hew, Dela 
Jemeraye, he not joining the part}- until 
1733. A fourth son joined the expedition 
in 1735. In the autumn of 1731, the party 
reached Rainy Lake, at the foot of which 
a post, called Fort St. Pierre, was erected. 
The next year the}' reached Lake of the 
Woods, and established Fort St. Charles on 
its southwest bank. A few miles from Lake 
Winnepeg they established a post on the 
Assinaboine, and a fort was established on 
the Maurepas ("Winnepeg) Biver. In June, 
1736, while twenty-one of the expedition 
were encamped on an isle in the Lake of the 
"Woods, they were surprised by a band of 
Sioux Indians hostile to the French allies, 
and all were killed. The island on this ac- 
count is called Massacre Island. The re- 
maining portion of the expedition pro- 
gressed as best they could. October 3, 
1738, they built an advanced post called 
Fort la Reine on the Assinaboine River. 



HI ST OR Y OF MINNESOTA. 



I2g 



They came in sight of the Eocky Mountains 
on the 1st of January, 1743, and, on the 
12th, ascended them. In 1744, after plant- 
ing a leaden plate of the arms of France in 
the upper Missouri country', they returned, 
reaching Minnesota soil late in June, and 
after establishing several posts in the ex- 
treme northern frontier country they finally 
returned to Montreal. Expeditions were 
afterward fitted out, one of which again 
reached tlie Eocky Mountains, Init the clash 
of arms between France and England put 
an end to the explorations so far as the 
French were concerned. 

In 1763, by the treaty of Versailles, France 
ceded Minnesota east of the Mississippi to 
England and west of it to Spain. In 1766 
Capt. Jonathan Carver, the first British sub- 
ject, although a native of Connecticut, visited 
the Falls of St. Anthony. He spent some 
three years among the different tribes of 
Indians in the upper Mississippi country ; 
found the Indian nations at war and suc- 
ceeded in making peace between them. As 
a reward for his good offices, it is claimed 
that two chiefs of the Sioux, acting for their 
nation, at a council held witli Carver at a 
great cave, now within the corporate limits 
of St. Paul, deeded to Carver a vast tract of 
land on the Mississippi Eiver, extending from 
the Falls of St. Anthony to the foot of Lake 
Pepin, on the Mississippi, thence east one 
hundred miles ; thence north one hundred 
and twenty miles ; thence west to the place 
of beginning. This pretended grant, how- 
ever, was examined b}^ our government and 
totally ignored. 

At the begmning of the present century 
there were no white men in Minnesota, excejit 
the few engaged in the fur trade, and the posts 
were chiefly held by the Northwest Com- 
pany, which corporation in 1794 erected a 
stockade at Sandy Lake. In 1802 we find 
William Morrison trading at Leech Lake, and 
two years latei' at Itasca. In the meantime. 



in 1796, the iaws of the ordinance of 1787 
had been extended over the Northwest, and 
on May 7, 1800, that part of Minnesota east 
of the Mississippi had become a part of In- 
diana by the division of Ohio. On the 20th 
of December, 1803, that part of Minnesota 
west of the Mississippi, for forty years in the 
possession of Spain as a part of Louisiana, 
was ceded to the ITnited States by Napoleon 
Bonaparte, who had just obtained it from 
Spain. In 1804 Upper Louisiana Territory 
was constituted. During the following year 
the United States for the first time sent an 
officer to Minnesota, in the person of Lieut. 
Z. M. Pike, who established government re- 
lations and obtained the Fort Snellino- reser- 
vation from the Dakotahs. He remained 
here for some time, but the war of 1812 
coming on postponed the military occupa- 
tion of the upper Mississippi by the United 
States for several years. Pike afterward 
fell in battle at York, in Upper Canada. 

In 1817 the Earl of Selkirk, a nobleman, 
visited the Scotch colony on the Eed Eiver, 
established in 1812, and created Cjuite an ex- 
citement on the part of some of the United 
States authorities. The same year Maj'or 
Stephen H. Long, of the United States En- 
gineer Corps, visited Minnesota and made a 
report recommending the bluff at the junc- 
tion of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers 
as a site for a fort. 

In 1819 Minnesota east of the Mississi])pi 
Eiver became a part of Crawford County, 
Mich. During the same year Fort Snell- 
ing was established and the site of Mendota 
was occupied by the United States troops, 
under Col. Leavenworth. Major Taliaferro 
was appointed Indian agent. 

During the year 1820 much of interest 
transpired on Minnesota soil. Early in the 
spring Jean Baptiste Faribault brought 
Leavenworth's horses from PrairieduChien. 
On the 5th of May Col. Leavenworth estab- 
lished summer quarters at Camp Cold water, 



I30 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



(Hennepin County). In July Gov. Cass, of 
Michigiin, visited the camps. In August Col. 
Joshia Snelling succeeded Leavenworth in 
command, and on the 20th of September the 
corner-stone of Fort Snelling (then Fort St. 
Anthony) was laid. On the loth of April 
t lie superintendent of farming for Earl Sel- 
ivirk left Pi'airie duChien, having ])urchased 
seed wheat; he ascended the Minnesota 
River to Big Stone Lake, where the boats 
were placed on rollers, dragged a short dis- 
tance to Lake Traverse, and reached Pembina 
June 3. This j'ear the first marriage in 
Minnesota occurred, Lieut. Green to a 
daughter of Capt. Gooding. The first birth 
of a white child in the State -occurred this 
year, a daughter to Col. Snelling ; died the 
following year. 

In 1821 Fort St. Anthony (Snelling) was 
sufficiently completed to be occupied by 
troops. During this year a sawmill was 
constructed at St. Anthony Falls for the use 
of the garrison under the supervision of 
Lieut. McCabe. 

Nothing of particular interest transpired 
during 1S22. In 1S23, however, the first 
steamboat, the Virginia, arrived at the mouth 
of the Minnesota River on the 10th of May, 
and created consternation among the Indians. 
Beltrami, the Italian, during the same year 
explored the northernmost- sources of the 
Mississippi, and Maj. Long, of the United 
States army, visited the northern boundary 
by way of the Minnesota and Red rivers. 
Millstones for grinding flour were sent to 
St. Anthony to be placed in the sawmill. 

In 1824 Gen. Winfield Scott visited Fort 
St. Anthony, and at his suggestion the name 
was chanjjcd to Fort Sneilinn:. 

After tiiis time events crowd rapidly one 
after the otliei' to fill in the time. From 
1825 on, the arrival of steamboats became 
more frequent. During this year a heavy 
flood visited the Red River, and a portion of 
the colony were driven to Minnesota and 
settled near Foil Snellinjj:. 



In 1832 Schoolcraft exploited the sources 
of the Mississippi River, and during the fol- 
lowing year Rev. W. T. Boutwell established 
the first mission among the Ojibways on 
Leech Lake. About the same time E. F. Ely 
opened a mission school at Atkins, a trading 
post on Sandy Lake. 

That portion of Minnesota lying west of 
the Mississippi River was attached to Michi- 
gan in 18.34. During this year Gen. II. II. 
Sibley settled at Mendota as agent for the 
fur company, and Samuel W. and Gideon 
H. Pond, missionaries among the Sioux, ar- 
rived. They were followed the next year 
by T. S. Williamson, J. D. Stevens and Alex- 
ander G. Huggins, and in June, 1835, a 
Presbyterian Church was organized at Fort 
Snelling. Late the same year Maj. J. L. 
Bean, in accordance with the treaty of 1825, 
surveyed the Sioux and Chippeway bound- 
ary line as far as Otter Tail Lake. 

In 1836 the Territory of Wisconsin was 
organized, embracing all of Minnesota east 
of the Mississippi River; that territory west 
of the river being attached to Iowa. A 
numl)er of steamboats arrived during this 
year, a passenger on one of them being the 
distinguished French astronomer, Jean N. 
Nicollet. 

In 1837 Gov. Dodge, of Wisconsin, made 
a treaty at Fort Snelling with the Ojib- 
ways, by which the latter ceded all their 
pine lands on the St. Croix and its tributaries ; 
a treaty was also effected at Washington 
with a deputation of Dakotahs for their pine 
lands east of the Mississippi. These treaties 
led the way to the first actual settlements in 
the State. The treaty was ratified by Con- 
gress in 1838. At about this time Franklin 
Steele made a claim at St. Anthony Falls ; 
Pierre Parrant took a claim and built a cabin 
on the present site of St. Paul ; Jeremiah 
Russell and L. W. Stratton made the first 
claim at Marine in the St. C.''oix Valley. 
During the year 1838 a steamboat arrived at 
Fort Snelling with J. N. Nicollet and J. C. 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



Fremont on a scientific expedition. Develop- 
ment begins in the St. Croix Valley. The 
next year the chapel of "St. Paul" was 
built and consecrated, giving the name to 
the capital of the State. 

Henry M. Eice arrived at Fort Snelling 
in IS-iO, others came and in November, 184-1, 
St. Croix County was established with 
"Dakotah" designated as the county -seat. 

On the 10th of October, 1813, a settlement 
was commenced on the present site of the 
city of Stillwater, and the erection of a saw- 
mill was immediately commenced. The 
names of the town proprietors were : John 
McKusick, from Maine ; Calvin Leach, from 
"Vermont ; Elam Greeley, from Maine and 
Elias McKeane, from Pennsylvania. 

Dr. E. D. Neill in his " Explorers and Pio- 
neers of Minnesota," says that in 1816 " the 
site of St. Paul was chiefly occupied by a 
few shanties, owned by ' certain lewd fellows 
of the baser sort,' who sold rum to the sol- 
diers and Indians." On the 6th of August, 
1846, the Wisconsin enabling act was passed. 
In 181:7 St. Croix County was detached 
from Crawford County, Wis., and reorgan- 
ized for civil and judicial purposes with Still- 
water as the county-seat. The town of St. 
Paul was surve^'ed and platted, and recorded 
in St. Croix County. During this year the 
Wisconsin constitutional convention was held. 
On the 29th of May, 1818, Wisconsin was 
admitted to the Union, leaving Minnesota 
(with its present boundaries) without a gov- 
ernment, and on the L'lith of the following 
August a convention was held at Stillwater 
to take measures foi' a separate teri'itorial or- 
ganization. On the 30th of October, 1818, 
Henry II. Sibley was elected delegate to 
Congress, and he was admitted to a seat 
January 15, 1849. March 3d, 1849, a bill 
was passed organizing Minnesota Territory, 
and on the 19th of the same month territo- 
rial officers were appointed. June 1st Gov. 
Ramsey issued a proclamation declaring 



the territory organized, and on September 3d 
the first territorial Legislature assembled. In 
1851 tlie capital of the State was permanent- 
ly located, as was also the penitentiary. In 
June, 1854, the first line of railway was com- 
pleted to St. Paul. 

On the 23d of February, 1857, an act 
passed the United States Senate, to author- 
ize the people of Minnesota to form a consti- 
tution, preparatory to their admission to the 
Union. In June a constitutional convention 
was held, and the State constitution was 
framed. This was adopted on the 13th of 
October, 1857, and a full list of State officei's 
was elected. On the lltli of May, 1858, the 
President approved of the bill admitting the 
State, and Minnesota was full}' recognized as 
one of the United States of America. The 
first State officers were sworn in on the 24th 
of May. 

From this time on we can only briefly re- 
view the most important events that have 
transpired. A great tide of immigration had 
set in early in the "fifties," which rapidh' 
filled up portions of the State, until in 1857 
a census gave the State a total population of 
150,037. During that 3'ear, however, real 
estate speculation reached a climax, and the 
terrible financial panic occurred which great- 
ly retarded the settlement. 

In 1858 the "State loan of $250,000 Avas: 
negotiated ; five million loan bill was 
passed, being voted on April 15; great strin- 
genc}' in money market. 

During 1859 the hard times continued 
to intensify. "Wright County War" oc- 
curred ; " Glencoe" and "Owatonna" money 
was issued ; work on the land grant roads 
ceased ; collapse of the five million scheme ; 
first export of grain that fall ; hard jiolitical 
struggle, in which the Republicans tri- 
umphed. 

Another warm political canvass occurred 
in 1860 ; the census taken this year gave the 
State a total population of 172,123. 



132 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



In ISfil war cast its gloom over the coun- 
try ; on A})ril 13th the President's proclama- 
tion for tr'oops was received ; the first regi- 
ment i-ecriiited at once, and June 22d it em- 
barked at Fort Snelling for the seat of war. 

In 1862 occurred the memorable Sioux 
outbreak ; x\ugust 17th, massacre at Acton ; 
August ISth, outbreak at Lower Sioux 
Agency; 19th, New UIra attacked ; 20th, 
Fort Eidgely attacked ; 25th, second attack 
on New Ulm ; 30th, Fort Abercrombie be- 
sieged ; September 1st, the bloody affair at 
Birch Coolie ; 19th, first railroad in Minne- 
sota in o]ieration, between St. Paul and 
Minneapolis; 22d, battle of Wood Lake; 
26th, captives surrendered by the Indians at 
Camp Release; military commission tried 
321 Indians for murder, 303 condemned to 
die ; December 26th, thirty -eight hung at 
Mankato. 

In 1863 Gen. Sibley conducted an expedi- 
tion to the Missouri Eiver ; July 3d, Little 
Crow was killed ; July 24:th, battle of Big 
Mound ; 26th, battle of Dead Buffalo Lake ; 
July 28th, battle of Stony Lake. 

In 1864 the civil war was still in progress, 
and large levies for troops were made in 
Minnesota; expedition to Missouri River, un- 
der Sully ; inflation of money market ; occa- 
sional Indian raids. 

In 1865 the war closed and peace returns ; 
Minnesota regiments return and are dis- 
banded ; in all, 25,052 troops were furnished 
by the State ; census showed 250,000 inhabi- 
tants. 

After the close of the war, and from 1866 
until 1872, " good times" prevailed ; immigra- 



tion was very heav}% and real estate and 
all values were inflated. The western por- 
tion of the State received many settlers. 
Railwa\' construction was very active. 

In 1873 the famous grasshopper raid began 
throughout the western part of the State, 
and continued about five seasons. January 
7-8-9 of this year, a terrible storm swept 
over the State, in which seventy persons per- 
ished. In September of the same year, the 
financial "panic of 1873 " began. 

In 1874 and 1875 nothing of especial im- 
portance occurred. 

On the 7th of September, 1876, an attack 
was made on the Bank of Northfield by a 
gang of armed outlaws from Missouri ; three 
of the latter were killed, and three were capt- 
ured. 

In 1877 biennial sessions amendment was 
adopted. 

In 1878 (May 2), three flouring mills at 
Minneapolis exploded, and eighteen lives 
lost. 

On November 15th. 1880, a portion of the 
hospital for the insane, at St. Peter, was de- 
stroyed by fire ; eighteen inmates were 
burned to death, seven died subsequently of 
injuries and fright, and six were missing. 
Total loss was $150,000. 

In 1881 the State capitol at St. Paul was 
destroyed by fire. 

In 1884 the State prison, located at Still- 
water, was partly burned. 

In 1SS6 (April 14), a cyclone swept over 
St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids, demolishing 
scores of buildings, and killing about seventy 
people. 



CHAPTER III. 




THE INDIAN MASSACEE. 



IHE outbreak of the Indians in 
1862 furnishes one of tlie most 
interesting chapters in Minneso- 
ta's history. At the time of this 
sad tragedy there were scat- 
tered throughout the State vari- 
ous bands of Sioux Indians, a 
powerful and warlike nation. 
They included the Medawakontons (or "Village 
of the Spirit Lake) ; AVapatons, (or Village 
of the Leaves); Sissetons (or Village of the 
Marsh), and Wapakutas (or Leaf Shooters), 
'f iiese four tribes, numbering about six thou- 
sand and two hundred persons, comprised 
tlie entire annuity Sioux of Minnesota. 
All these Indians had from time to time, 
from the 19th of July, 1815, to the date of 
the massacre in 1862, received presents fi'om 
the government, by virtue of various treaties 
of amity and friendship. From the time of 
the treat}' of St. Louis in 1816, these tribes 
had remained friendly to the whites, and 
had by treaty stipulations parted with all 
the lands to which they claimed title in 
Iowa ; all on the east side of the Mississippi 
River, and all on the Minnesota River in 
Minnesota, except certain reservations. One 
of these reservations lay upon both sides of 
the Minnesota ten miles on either side of 
that stream, from Hawk River on the north 
to Yellow Medicine River on the south side, 
thence westerly to the head of Big Stone Lake 
and Lake Traverse, a distance of about one 
hundred miles. Another of these reserva- 
tions commenced at Little Rock River on 
the east and a line running due south from 
its mouth, and extending up the river 
westerly to the eastern line of the reserva- 



tion first named, at the Hawk and Yellow 
Medicine rivers. The last also had a width 
of ten miles on each side of the Minnesota 
River. 

Early in 1858 a scheme was devised by 
the authorities at Washington for the civili- 
zation of these annuity Indians. A civiliza- 
tion fund was provided, to be taken from their 
annuities and expended in improving the 
lands of such as should abandon their tribal 
relations and adopt the habits and modes of 
life of the whites. To all such, lands were 
assigned in severalty, eighty acres to the 
head of each family, on wiiich should be 
erected the necessary farm buildings, and 
farming implements and cattle furnished 
him. At the time of the outbreak about one 
hundred and seventy-five Indians had taken 
advantage of the provisions of this treaty 
and become " farmer Indians." A great 
majority of the Indians, however, disliked 
the idea of taking any portion of their gen- 
eral fund to carry out the civilization scheme. 
Those who retained the blanket, called 
"blanket Indians," denounced the measure 
as a fraud, as it was slowly but surely 
destroying what was, to them, their God- 
given right to the chase. The result, in brief, 
of this civilization scheme was this : After 
tiie chase was over tiie "blanket Indians" 
would pitch their tents about the homes of 
the "farmer Indians" and proceed to eat 
them out of house and home, and when the 
ruin was complete, the "farmer" with his 
wife and children, driven by necessity, would 
again seek temporary subsistence in the 
chase. During their absence the " blanket 
Indians" would commit whatever destruc- 



134 



HISTORY OF MIXXESOTA. 



tion of fences or tenements their desires or 
necessities would suggest. In this way the an- 
nual process continued, so that when the 
"farmer Indian" returned to his desolate 
home in the spring to prepare again for a 
crop, he looked forward to no different re- 
sults for the coming winter. It will thus be 
seen that the civilization scheme was an ut- 
ter failure. 

The treaty referred to, of 185S, had opened 
for settlement a vast frontier country of the 
most attractive character in the valley of 
the Minnesota River, and on the streams put- 
ting into the Minnesota on either side, such 
as Beaver Creek, Sacred Heart, Hawk and 
Chippewa rivers, and some other small 
streams, there were flourishing settlements 
of white families. "Within this ceded tract, 
ten miles wide, were the scattered settle- 
ments of Bircli Coolie, Patterson Eapids, 
and others as far up as the upper agency at 
Yellow Medicine, in Renville County. The 
county of Brown adjoined the reservation, 
and was at that time settled mostly by Ger- 
mans. Here was also the flourishing town 
of New Ulm, and further on was a thriving 
settlement on the Big Cottonwood and 
"Watonwan. Other counties. Blue Earth, 
Nicollet, Sibley, Meeker, McLeod, Kandiyohi, 
Monongalia and IMurray, together with others 
somewhat removed from the direct attack of 
the Indians, as "Wright, Stearns ancljackson, 
and even reaching on the north to Fort 
Abercrombie, tlius extending from Iowa to 
the valley of the Red River of the North, 
were severally involved in the consequences 
of the warfare of 1SG2. This extended area 
had a population estimated at over fifty 
thousand. 

Early in the fifties complaints began to be 
made by the Indians, and dissatisfaction be- 
gan to be manifest. By the treaty of Trav- 
erse des Sioux, dated July 23, 1851, between 
the United States and the Sissetons and 
"Wapatons, $275,000 was to be paid their 



chiefs, and a further sum of i?30,000 was to 
be expended for their benetit in Indian im- 
provements. By the treaty of Mendota, 
dated August 5, 1851, the Medawakantons 
and "Wapakutas were to receive the sum of 
$200,000, to be paid to their chief, and a fur- 
ther sum of $30,000. These several sums 
amounting in the aggregate to $550,000, 
tliese Indians, to whom they were payable, 
claim they Avere never paid, except perhaps 
a small portion expended in improvements. 
This led to great dissatisfaction, of which 
the government was fully apprised. Several 
l)arties were at different times sent out Iiy th« 
Indian department of the government to in- 
vestigate into the causes, but the rascality 
of the agents and officers who had defrauded 
the Indians had been carefully covered up, 
and as usual in such cases the guilty parties 
were exculpated. This was one of the lead- 
ing and most important causes which led to 
the massacre of 1 862. 

Another cause of irritation among these 
annuity Sioux arose cut of the Spirit Lake 
massacre of 1857 — known as the Inkpadutah 
massacre. Inkpadutah was an outhiw of 
the "Wapakuta band of Sioux Indians, and 
his acts were entirely disclaimed by the " an- 
nuity Sioux." He had committed murder in 
his own tribe some twenty years previous, 
and since had led a wanderin<f and marauding 
life about the headwaters of the Des Moines 
River and westward to Dakota. Finally his 
outrages reached a climax, when early in 1857 
with a few of his followers, he proceeded to 
murder every family in the little settlement 
about Spirit Lake, Iowa, except four women 
whom they bore away captives. From there 
the}^ went to the Springfield settlement (on 
the present site of Jackson, Minn.), where they 
murdered seventeen people, making a total c-f 
forty seven persons killed. Tiiey then re- 
treated westward. Shortly after the mas- 
sacre at Springfield (now Jackson) a com- 
pany of regular soldiers under Capt. Bee 



HISTOli Y OF MINNESOTA. 



135 



was stationed at that place, and had the 
officer been a zealous or capable one might 
easily have overtaken and punished them. 
As stated the " annuity Sioux " disclaimed the 
acts of this outhiw ; but for a time the gov- 
ernment refused t(j jwy the annuities until 
they should deliver up the murdei'ers. In a 
short time, however, the government let the 
matter drop, and continued to }iay the an- 
nuities as before. Some thought that this 
was a great error and that the Indians mis- 
took it for a sign of weakness. 

However that may be, as time went on 
the Indians became more and more insolent, 
and Little Crow, together with a few leaders 
among the annuity Sioux, from the time the 
government ceased its efforts to punish Ink- 
padutah, began to agitate and plan the great 
conspiracy to drive the whites from the State 
of Minnesota. Little Crow was one of the 
" farmer Indians," whose headquarters was 
a short distance above the Lower Agencv, 
who is credited with being the leader in the 
outbreak against the whites. 

The antecedent exciting causes of this 
massacre are numerous. The displaced 
agents and traders find the cause in the er- 
roneous action of the government, resulting 
in their removal from office. The statesman 
and the philosopher may unite in tracing the 
cause to improper theories as to the mode of 
acquiring the right to Indian lands. The 
former nuiy locate the evil in our system of 
treaties, and the latter in our theoi'ies of gov- 
ernment. The philanthropist )nav find the 
cause in tiie absence of justice which we ex- 
hibit in all our intercourse with the Indian 
races. The poet and the lovers of romance 
in human character find the true cause, as 
they believe, in the total absence of all ap- 
preciation of the noble, generous, confiding 
traits peculiar to the native Indian. The 
Christian teacher finds apologies for acts of 
Indian atrocities in the deficient systems of 
mental and moral culture. Each of these 



different classes are satisfied that the great 
massacre of August, 18(12, had its origin in 
some way intimately connected with his 
favorite theory. 

Maj. Thomas Galbraith, Sioux agent, 
says, in writing of the causes which led to 
the massacre : " The radical, moving cause 
of the outbreak is, I am satisfied, the in- 
grained and fixed hostility of tlie savage bar- 
barian to reform and civilization. As in all 
barbarous communities in the history of the 
world the same people liave, for the most 
part, resisted the encroachments of civiliza- 
tion upon their ancient customs, so it is in 
the case before us. Nor does it matter ma- 
terially in what shape civilization makes its 
attack. Hostile, opposing forces meet in 
conflict, and a war of social elements is the 
result — civilization is aggressive, and bar- 
barism stubbornly resistant. Sometimes, 
indeed, civilization has achieved a bloodless 
victor}', but^generally it has been otherwise. 
Christianity, itself, the true basis of civiliza- 
tion, has, in most instances, waded to success 
through seas of blood. . . . Having 
stated thus much, I state, as a settled fact 
in my mind, that the encroachments of 
Christianity, and its handmaid, civilization, 
upon the habits and customs of the Sioux 
Indians, is the cause of the late terrible Sioux 
outbreak. There were, it is true, many im- 
mediate inciting causes, which will be allud- 
ed to and stated hereafter, but they are sub- 
sidiary to, and developments of, or incident 
to, the great cause set forth. . . . But 
that the recent Sioux outbreak would have 
happened at any rate, as a result, a fair con- 
sequence of the cause here stated, I have no 
doubt. 

'' Now as to the existing or immediate 
causes of the outbreak : By my predecessor a 
new and radical system was inaugurated ; 
practically, and in its inauguration, he was 
aided by the Christian missionaries and by 
the government. The treaties of 1858 were 



136 



JU STORY OF MINNESOTA. 



ostensibly uuule to carry this new system 
into effect. The theory, in substance, was 
to brealv up tlie community system which 
obtained among tlio Sioux, wealceii and de- 
stroy their tribal relations, and individualize 
them, by giving them each a- separate home. 
On the 1st (\as of June, A. D. 
1861, when I enteretl upon the duties of my 
office, I found that the system had just been 
inaugurated. Some hundred families of the 
annuity Sioux had become novitiates, and 
their relatives and friends seemed to be 
favorably disposed to the new order of 
things. But I also found that, against these 
were arrayed over five thousand 'annuity 
SiouXj' besides at least three thousand Yank- 
tonais, all inflamed by the most bitter, re- 
lentless and devilish hostility. 

" I saw, to some extent, the difficulty of 
the situation, but I determined to continue, 
if in my power, the civilization system. To 
favor it, to aid and build it up by every fair 
means, I advised, encouraged, and assisted 
the farmer novitiates ; in short I sustained 
the policy inaugurated by my predecessor, 
and sustained and recommended b}' the gov- 
ernment. I soon discovered that the system 
could not l)e successful without a sufficient 
force to protect the 'farmer' from the hos- 
tilit}' of the 'blanket' Indians. 

" During my term, and up to the time of 
the outbreak, about 175 had their haircut 
and had adopted the habits and customs of 
the white men. 

" For a time, mdeed, my hopes were strong 
that civilization would soon be in the as- 
cendant. But the increase in the civilization 
party and their evident prosperity, only 
tended to e.xasperate the Indians of the 'an- 
cient customs,' and to widen the breach. But 
while these are to be enumerated, it may be 
permitted me to hope that the radical cause 
will not be forgotten or overlooked ; and I 
am bold to express this desire, because, ever 
since the outbreak, the public journals of the 



country, religious and secular, have teemed 
with editorials by and communications from 
reliable individuals,' politicians, philanthro- 
pists, philosophers and hired ' penny a-liners,' 
mostly mistaken and sometimes willfully 
and grossly false, giving the cause (jf the 
Indian raid." 

Maj. Galbraith enumerates a variety of 
other exciting causes of the massacre, which 
our limit will not allow us to insert in this 



volume. Among other causes. 



that 



the United States was itself at war, and that 
"Washington was taken by the negroes. . , 
But none of these were, in his opinion, the 
cause of the outbreak. 

The Major then adds : 

"Grievances such as have been related, 
and numberless others akin to them, were 
spoken of, recited, and chanted at their 
councils, dances and feasts, to such an extent 
that, in their excitement, in June, 1862, a 
secret organization known as tlie 'Soldiers' 
Lodge ' was founded by the 3'oung men and 
soldiers of the lower Sioux, with the object, 
as far as I was able to learn through spies 
and informers, of preventing the ' traders ' 
from going to the pay-tables, as had been 
their custom. Since the outbreak I have 
become satisfied that the real object of this 
' Lodge ' was to adopt measures to ' clean 
out ' all the white people at the end of the 
payment." 

Whatever may have been the cause of the 
fearful and bloody tragedy, it is certain that 
the manner of the execution of the infernal 
deed was a deep-laid conspiracy, long cher- 
ished by Little Crow, taking form under the 
guise of the " Soldiers' Lodge," and matured 
in secret Indian councils. In all these secret 
movements Little Crow was the moving- 
spirit. 

Now the opportune moment seemed to 
have come. Only thirty soldiers were sta- 
tioned at Fort Ridgely. Some thirty were 
all that Fort Ivii)ley could muster, and at 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



■37 



Fort Abercrombie, one company under Capt. 
Van Der Ilork was all the whites could 
depend upon to repel any attack in that 
quarter. The whole effective force for the 
defense of the entire frontier, from Pembina 
to the Iowa line, did not exceed 200 men. 
The annuity money was daily expected, and 
no troops except about one hundred men at 
Yellow Medicine, had been detailed, as usual, 
to attend the anticipated payment. Here 
was a glittering prize to be paraded before 
the minds of the excited savages. The 
whites were weak ; they were engaged in a 
terrible wa r among themselves ; their atten- 
tion was now directed toward the great 
struggle in the South. At such a time, offer- 
ing so many chances for rapine and plunder, 
it would be easy to unite at least all the 
annuity Indians in one common movement. 
Little Crow knew full well tiiat the Indians 
could easily be made to believe that now 
was a favorable time to make a grand attack 
upon the border settlements. 

A memorable council convened at Little 
Crow's village, near the lower agency, on 
Sunday night, August 3, previous to the 
attack on Fort Ridgely, and precisely two 
weeks before the massacres at Acton. Little 
Crow was at tiiis council, and he was not 
wanting in ability to meet the greatness of 
the occasion. T!ie proceedings of this council, 
of course, were secret. The council matured 
the details of the conspiracy It appears 
that the next day, August 4, a party of 
ninety-six Indians in war paint and fully 
armed, rode up to Fort Ridgely and re- 
quested permission to hold a dance and feast 
in the fort. They were allowed to hold the 
dance outside the fort, but Sergeant Jones, 
with singular foresight, mounted a howitzer 
charged with shell and canister-shot and 
guarded the entrance, having it pointed 
toward the Indians. After finishing the 
dance the red-skins left without making the 
attack, which had undoubtedly been medi- 



tated. Only thirty soldiers occupied the 
post at Fort Ridgely, and this was deemed 
amply sufficient for times of peace. 

On the same day a great many Indians 
were encamped about the Upper Agency. 
They were afraid they would not get their 
annuity money, which had not arrived as 
3'et. They had been complaining bitterly 
of starvation, and on this day made an 
attack on the warehouse, carrj'ing off a 
great deal of flour and other provisions. 
The matter, however, was finally adjusted, 
and the agent issued rations, promising to 
distribute their money as soon as it should 
arrive. None of the Indians, however, were 
punished for their attack on the supply 
house. 

We now come to the massacre itself, the 
first blow of which fell upon the town of 
Acton, in Meeker County, about thirtj^-five 
miles northeast of the Lower Sioux Agency. 
On Sunday, August 17, 1862, six Sioux In 
tlians brutally murdered a man named Jones, 
with his wife and a daughter, and a man 
named "Webster and Howard Baker. 

On the next day, Monday, the massacre 
at the Lower Agency occurred, where many 
were killed and fearfully mutilated. A few 
escaped and made their way to the eastern 
settlements. The Indians declared it to be 
their intention to kill or drive off all the 
whites to the east of the Mississippi Eiver, 
and to spare none. All that day the w^ork 
of plunder went on at the lower agency, 
and when the stores and dwellings had been 
emptied, they were fired. So complete was 
the surprise and so sudden and unexpected 
the terrible blow that not a single one of the 
host of savages was slain. In thirty min- 
utes from the time the first gun was fired 
not a white person was left alive. All 
were either weltering in their gore or had 
fled in fear and terror from that ])lace of 
death. It seems that hundreds of the In- 
dians had gathered here and then dispersed 



-i:S 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



througli the scattered settlements for their 
murderous work. 

On the same morning — of August IS — 
the massacre began on the north side of the 
Minnesota River, from Birch Coolie to 
Beaver Ci-eek and bevond, and the recion 
was strewn with the mutilated bodies of the 
dead and dying men, women and children. 
So the terrible warfai'e continued, murder- 
ing and burning ; none were allowed to es- 
cape who could possibly be discovered. The 
outbreak extended over a vast scope of coun- 
try, and the Indians numbered well up into 
the thousands. The entire length of the 
Minnesota and its tributaries, and out into 
Dakota, together with all the western part 
of this State was the scene everj'where of a 
carnival of blood. Tiie counties affected 
have already been named. 

On the ISth of August the Indians at- 
tacked New Uhn. and after several battles 
and skirmishes were defeated. A few days 
later the whites evacuated the town and 
moved toward Mankato. 

On the 18th of August the battle at Lower 
Agency Ferry was fought. 

On the 20th, seeing they were foiled in 
their attack on New Ulm, they made a 
furious assault on Fort Ridgely. A number 
of whites were killed and woimded, but the 
Indians were defeated. The attack was re- 
newed on the 22d and another severe battle 
occurred, which was ended Ijy night coming 
on. 

Numerous engagements were also fought 
in the northern part of the State. 

Throughout all the Minnesota River coun- 
try many women and children were taken 
prisoners. In the meantime companies had 
been raised and were everywhere following 
up the Indiansand guarding the various posts 
at which the settlers had gathered. These 
various companies had also ])icked up a great 
many wounded found on tlie iirairies,and also 
buried the dead. On the 1st of September, 



Company A, Sixth Regiment Minnesota Vol- 
unteers, under Capt. II. P. Grant, fought 
tiie battle of Bircli Coolie, a most terrible 
and blood v en^anement. The noble little 
band of soldiei's were relieved on September 
3, by an advance movement of Col. Sibley's 
forces at Fort Ridgelv. The sig-nal defeat 
of Little Crow at this battle, in effect, ended 
the effoi'ts of the Indians in subduing the 
whites on the border. After this battle all 
of the Indian forces under Little Crow be- 
^an a retreat up the vallev of the Minnesota 
toward Yellow Medicine ; and on Septem- 
ber 16, Col. Sibley, with his whole column, 
moved in pursuit of the fleeing foe, and on 
the 23d they came up with the Indians and 
defeated them in the battle of Wood Lake. 
This put an end to the hopes of Little Crow. 
On the same day as the battle of Wood Lake, 
the Wapeton band of Indians sui-rendered 
later and turned over to Col. Sibley all the 
captives — 107 whites and 162 half-breeds. 
This place has since been known as " Camp 
Release." 

After the disaster at Wood Lake, Little 
Crow retreated in the direction of Big Stone 
Lake, with those who remained with him. 
The chief was never captured, but is said to 
have been killed at Scattered I^ake in 1863. 
Col. Sibley continued to pursue the deserting 
Indians, and demanded the surrender of all 
bands. By the Sth of October, 1862, prison- 
ers had come in and surrendered to the num- 
ber of 2,000. Scouting parties were sent 
over various parts of the West, and, until all 
danger of further depredations was ] ast, 
soldiers were stationed at all of the frontiir 
posts and settlements. 

A military commission was soon after 
inaugurated to try the parties charged with 
murder of white persons. On the 5th of 
November, 1862. 321 Indians and their allies 
were found guilty, and 303 were recom- 
mended for capital punishment, and the 
others for imprisonment. They were im- 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



139 



mediately removed under a guard of 1,500 
men to South Bend, on the Minnesota Eiver, 
to await further orders from the govern- 
ment. The final decision of the President 
was rendered on the ITth of December, 1802, 
ordering that forty of these be hung on Fri- 
day, December 2fi. One of tliese died a 
sliorttime before tlie day set, and one other, 
a half ])reed, had his sentence commuted to 
imprisonment for life just before the fatal 



da3\ As to the other thirty-eight the sen- 
tence was executed at Mankatoon the day set. 
On the 16th of February, 1863, the trea- 
ties before that time existing between the 
United States and these "annuity Indians" 
were abrogated and annulled, and all lands 
and rights of occupancy, and all annuities 
r.nd claims then existing in favor of said 
Indians, were declared forfeited. Thus ended 
the saddest chapter of Minnesota's history. 




CHAPTER IV. 



TEERITORIAL AND STATE OFFICEES. 






TEREITOKIAL OFFICERS. 



3;, . S':. . :l 


11 


" 


1 


f 


K 


y 


it 












HE first governor of the Terri- 
tory of Minnesota was Alexander 
Ramsey, who served from June 
1, 1S40, to May 15, 185:1 Willis 
A. Gorman succeeded him, and 
held the office until April 23, 
1857. Samuel Medary was the 
next territorial governor, and 
held the office until the State 
officers were sworn in. May 24, 1858. 

The first secretary of the Territory was 
Charles K. Smith, who served from June 1, 
1849, until October 23, 1851, when Alexander 
Wilkin qualified and held the office until 
May 15, 1853. Joseph Travis Rosser was 
the next, and served until April 23, 1857. 
Charles L. Chase, the last territorial sec- 
retary, qualified on the date last named and 
served until succeeded ijy the newly chosen 
secretary of state. May 24. 1858. 

The office of territorial treasurer was first 
filled by Calvin A. Tuttle, who served from 
November 3, 1849, to July 2, 1853. George 
W. Prescott came next and retained the 
position until Februar}' 24, 1854. Succeed- 
ing him Charles E. Leonard served until 
May 7, 1857, when George AY. Armstrong 
was appointed and served until the State 
officers qualified, May 24, 1858. 

J. E. McKusick Avas the first territorial 
iiuditor, qualifying November 3, 1849, and 
serving until November 30, 1852. A. Van 
V orhees succeeded him and held the office 
until the IStli of May, 1853, when Socrates 
Nelson qualified. January 17, 1854, Julius 
Georgii took charge of the office and served 
until succeeded by the State auditor, May 
24, 1858. 



Dui'ing the existence of the Territory of 
Minnesota, Lorenzo A. Babcock and then 
Lafayette Emmett were the only ones to 
hold the office of attorney general. The 
first named served from June 1, 1849, until 
May 15, 1853, and the latter from 1853 until 
May 24, 1858. 

In tei'ritorial times there were no district 
judges, but the justices of the supreme court 
attended to all judicial matters now within 
the jurisdiction of the district bench. The 
first chief justice of the territorial supreme 
court was Aaron Goodrich, who served from 
June 1, 1849, to November 13, 1851, when 
Jerome Fuller was appointed and presided 
until December 16, 1852. Henry Z. Hayner 
was next appointed, but never presided at a 
term of court. William II. Welch was ap- 
pointed April 7, 1853, and served until May 
24, 1858. 

David Cooper and Bradley B. Meeker 
were the first associate justices, and served 
from June 1, 1849, until April 7, 1853. 
Their successors were Andrew G. Chatfield 
and Moses G. Sherburne, who retained the 
]iositions until A]n'il, 1857, and were fol- 
lowed by E. R. Nelson and Charles E. 
Flandrau, who served until the State officers 
qualified. 

The clerks of the territorial supreme court 
were : James K. Humphrey, Andrew J. Whit- 
ney and George W. Prescott, in the order 
named. The reporters were : William Hol- 
linshead, Isaac Atwater, John B. Brisbin, M. 
E. Ames and Harvey Officer. 

Henry II. Sibley was the first delegate 
from the Territory' to Congress, serving from 
January 15, 1849, to March 4, 1853. Henry 



uo 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



141 



M. Rice was the second, serving from De- 
cember 5, 1853, to March 4, 1857, when he 
was succeeded by W. W. Kingsbury, wlio 
qualified December 7, 1857, and whose term 
expired May 11, 1858. 

STATE OFFICERS. 

Tlie governors of the State of Minnesota, 
in their order have been as follows : Henry 
H. Sibley, from May 24, 1858, to January 2, 
1860 ; Alexander Eamsey, to July 10, 1863 ; 
Henry A. Swift, to January 11, 1864; 
Stephen Miller, during 1864-5 ; William E. 
Marshall, during 1866-7-8-9 ; Horace Aus- 
tin, during 1870-1-2-3 ; Cushman K. Davis, 
during 1874-5 ; John S. Pillsbur^^ during 
1876-7-8-9-80-81 ; Lucius F. Hubbard, dur- 
ing 1882-3-4-5-6, and A. E. McGill, the 
present governor, who assumed the duties of 
the office January 5, 1887. 

The lieutenant governors since the organ- 
ization of the State have been as follows : 
William Holcomb, from May 24, 1858, to 
January 2, 1860 ; Ignatius Donnelly, to 
March 3, 1863 ; Henry A. Swift, to July 10, 
1863; Charles D. Sherwood, during 1864-5; 
Thomas H. Armstrong, during 1SC6-7-8-0 ; 
William H. Yale, during 1870-1-2-3; Al- 
phonzo Barto, during 1874—5 ; James B. 
Wakefield, during 1S76-7-8-9 ; C. A. Gill- 
man, during 1880-1-2-3-4-5-6, and A. E. 
Eice, who qualified January 4, 1887. 

The office of secretary of State has been 
filled successively by the following gen- 
tlemen: Francis Baasen, from May 24, 1858, 
to January 2, 1860 ; James H. Baker, to 
November 17, 1862 ; David Blakely, to Janu- 
ary 8, 1866; Henry C. Eogers, during the 
yeai-s 1866-7-8-9 ; Hans Mattson, during 
1870-1 ; S. P. Jennison, during 1872-3-4-5 ; 
John S. Irgens, during 1876-7-8-9; Fred. 
Von Baumbach, during 1880-1-2-3-4-5-6, 
and Hans Mattson, during 1887-8. 

The State treasurers have been as follows : 
George W. Armstrong, from May 24, 1858, 



to January 2, 1860; Charles Scheffer, during 
1860-1-2-3-4-5-6-7; Emil Munch, during 
1868-9-70-1 ; William Seeger, from January 
5, 1872, to February 7, 1873 ; Edwin W. Dyke, 
to January 7, 1876 ; William Pfaender, dur- 
ing 1876-7-8-9 ; Charles Kittelson, during 
1880-1-2-3-4-5-6, and Joseph Bobleter, the 
present treasurer, who was elected for 
1887-8. 

The auditors of State have been as fol- 
lows : W. F. Dunbar, from May 24, 1858, 
to January 1, 1861 ; Charles McHrath to 
January 13, 1873 ; O. P. Whitcomb, to Jan- 
uary 10, 1882, and W. W. Braden, who is 
the present incumbent of the office. 

The office of attorney general has been 
filled as follows : Charles H. Berrj^, served 
from May 24, 1858, to January 2, 1860 ; Gor- 
don E. Cole, served during 1860-1-2-3-4^5 ; 
William Colville, during 1866-7; F. E. E. 
Cornell, during 1868-9-70-1-2-3 ; George P. 
Wilson, during 1874-5-6-7-8-9 ; Charles M. 
Start, from January 10, 1880, to March 11, 
1881 ; W. J. Hahn, to January 5, 1887, and 
Moses E. Clapp, the present attorney general. 

The present board of railroad commission- 
ers is made up of Horace Austin, John L. 
Gibbs and George L. Becker. Those who 
have composed the boai'd in the past were: 
A. J. Edgerton, W. E. Marshall, J. J. Ean- 
dall, J. H. Baker and S. S. Murdock. 

Edward D. Neill was the first superintend- 
ent of public instruction for ilinnesota. Pie 
was appointed in March, 1860, and on the 
1st of July, 1861, was succeeded by B. F. 
Crary. From 1862 to 1867 the secretary of 
State was ex-officio superintendent, but on 
April 1, 1867, M. H. Dunnell was appointed 
sujierintendent, and served until August. 
1870, when he was succeeded b\' II. B. Wil- 
son. April 3, 1875, David Burt was ap- 
pointed superintendent, and retained the 
office until succeeded by the present incuir. 
bent, D. L. Kiehl, who was appointed Se[) 
tember 1, 1881. 



142 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



The oiRce of insurance commissioner has 
been liekl in turn by Pennock I'usey. A. II. 
McGill and Charles Sliandrew ; the hist 
nameil gentleman having been appointed 
January 0, 1SS7, is the present commissioner. 

The commissioners of statistics have been 
as follows : J. A. Wiieelock, Pennock Pusey, 
C. F. Solberg, J. B. Phillips, T. M. JMeteaif, 
J. P. Jacobson, F. Sneedorflf, Oscar Malmros, 
A. F. Nordin, Victor Hjortsberg and Her- 
man Stockenstroin. 

The following is a list of the gentlemen 
who have filled the office of adjutant-gen- 
eral : Alex. C. Jones, W. II. Acker, John B. 
Sanborn, Oscar Malmros, John Peller, 11. P. 
Van Cleve, M. D. Flower, .II. A. Castle, 11. 
P. Van Cleve, A. C. Ilawley, C. M. McCar- 
thy and F. W. Seeley. 

JUDICIARY. 

The first chief justice of the supreme court 
of the State was Lafayette Emmett, wlio 
was sworn in May 2-i, 1858, and served until 
January 10, 1805. Thomas Wilson suc- 
ceeded him and served until July 14, 1SC9, 
when he was succeeded by James GiLfillan. 



Christopher G. Ripley was the next, liolding 
the position from January Y, 1870, until 
April 7, 1874, when he was followed by S. 
J. R. AIcMillan, who served until March 10, 
1875. At that time James Giltillan became 
ciiief justice, and is the present incumbent. 

The following statements -will show the 
associate justices, together with the date of 
qualification of each : Charles E. Flandrau 
and Isaac Atwater served from ]\Iay 24, 
1858, to July 0, 1864; S. J. R. McMillan 
from July 0,1864, to April 7, 1874; Thomas 
Wilson from July 6, 1S04, to January 10, 
1865; George B. Young from April 10, 
1874, to January 11, 1875 ; F. R. E. Cornell 
from January 11, 1875, to May 23, 1881, and 
Greenleaf Clark from March 14, 1881, to 
January 12, 1882. The present associate 
justices are John M. Berry, who first quali- 
fied January 10, 1865 ; D. A. Dickinson, 
since June 27, 1881; William Mitchell, since 
March 14, 1881, and C. E. Vanderburgh, 
since January 12, 1882. 

As to district courts, the State is now 
divided into thirteen districts. 




CHAPTER Y. 



EEPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, AND THE 

CREATION OF COUNTIES. 




ENATORS. The firstUnited States 
Senators from Minnesota were 
James Shields and Ilenrj^ M. Rice, 
who took the oath of office May ■ 
11, 1858. The former was suc- 
ceeded on March 4th, 1860, b}' 
Morton S. Wilkinson, who served 
the full term. Daniel S. Norton 
was sworn in to succeed Wilkin- 
son, March 4, 1867, and died 
while in office, July 14, 1870. O. 
P. Stearns was appointed, and served out the 
few weeks left of the term. William Win- 
dom came next, and retained the office until 
March 12, 1881, when he was succeeded by 
A. J. Edgerton, who resigned, however, in 
October of the same year, and William Win- 
dom was again chosen, serving until suc- 
ceeded by one of the present Senators, D. M. 
Sabin, March 4, 1883. 

Henry M. Rice, who was mentioned as a 
colleague of James Shields, served as United 
States Senator from May 11, 1858, to March 
4, 1863, when Alexander Ramsey succeeded 
him, and retained the position until March 4, 
1875. S. J. R. McMillan became United 
States Senator on the day last named, and 
occupied the position for two full terms — 
twelve years — being succeeded March 4, 
1887, by Cushman K. Davis, one of the 
present Senators. 

REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS. 

The territorial delegates have already been 



spoken of. When the State of Minnesota 
was organized, it was entitled to two represent- 
atives in the House of Representatives of 
the United States. This state of affairs con- 
tinued until 1871, when a reapportionment 
was made, and the State was allowed three 
members of the House. At that time the 
State was divided into three congressional 
districts — No. 1, embracing the southern. 
No. 2 the central, and No. 3 the northern 
portion of the State. In 1881 another ap- 
portionment was made, by which the State 
secured five Representatives. This is the 
present status of the representation. The 
State is divided into five congressional dis- 
tricts, as follows : The first district includes 
Houston, Fillmore, Mower, Freeborn, Steele, 
Dodge, Olmsted, Winona and Wabasha 
counties ; the second district includes Fari- 
bault, Blue Earth, Waseca, Watonwan, Mar- 
tin, Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, 
Rock, Pipestone, Lincoln, Lyon, Redwood, 
Brown, Nicollet, Yellow Medicine, Lac qui 
Parle, Sibley and Le Sueur counties ; the 
third district embraces Goodhue, Rice, Swift, 
Dakota, Scott, Carve i", McLeod, Meeker, 
Kandiyohi, Renville and Chippewa counties ; 
the fourth district includes Washington, 
Ramsej', Hennepin, Wright, Pine, Kanabec, 
Anoka, Chisago, Isanti and Sherburne coun- 
ties, and the fifth district includes Mille Lacs, 
Benton, Morrison, Stearns, Pope, Douglas, 
Stevens, Big Stone, Traverse, Grant, Todd, 



1-14 



HISTORY OF MINNESOTA. 



Crow Win^, Aitkin, Carlton, "Wadena, Otter 
Tail, Wilkin, Cass, Becker, Clay, Polk, Bel- 
trami, Marshall, Hubbard, Kittson, Itasca, 
St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties. 

The following is a list of the various gen- 
tlemen wiio have represented Minnesota in 
tlie lower house of Congress, with the years 
during which they served. With one or two 
exceptions, the term of office began and 
closed March 4th. 

W. W. riielps, lS.58-9; J. M. Cavenaugh, 
1858; William Windoin, 18C0-l-2-3-tl:-5-G-7-S ; 
Cyrus Aldrich, 1860-1-2; Ignatius Donnelly, 
18(U-5 6-7-8; M. S. Wilkinson, 1869-70; E. 
M. Wilson, 1869-70 ; John T. Averill, 1871-2- 
3-t ; M. H. Bunnell, from'1871 to 1883 ; 11. 
B. Straight, 1874-5-6-7-8; William S. King, 
1876; J. H. Stewart, 1878; Henry Poehler, 
1879-80 ;H. B. Straight, 1881-2-3-4-5-6; W. 
D. Washburn, 1879-80-1-2-3-4; Milo White, 
1883-4-5-6; J. B. Wakefield, 1883-4-5-6; 
Knute Nelson, 1883-4-5-6-7-8 ; J. B. Gilfillan, 
.1885-6; Thomas Wilson, 1887-8; JohnLiod, 
1887-8 ; John L. McDonald, 1887-8 ; Edmund 
Kice, 1887-8. 

CREATION OF COUNTIES. 

In this connection we present a list of the 
counties of Minnesota, together with the 
date on which they were created by the terri- 
torial or State Legislatures, v-iz.: 
Aitkin, May 83, 1857, Marsliall, February 25, 1879, 



Anoka, May 23, 18.J7, 
Becker, March 18, 18.58 
Hellrami, F'bru'ry 28, 1806 
Benton, October 27, 1849, 
Big Stone, F'br'ry 20, 1862, 
Blue Earth, March .i, 1853, 
Brown, February 20, 185.5, 
Carlton, May 23. 18.57, 
Carver, February 20, 1855, 
Cass, September 1, 1831, 
Chippewa, F'br'ry 20, 1862, 
Chisago, September 1, 1851, 
Clay, March 2, 1862, 
Cook, .March 9, 1874, 
Cottonwood, May 23, 1857, 
Crow Wing, May 23, 18.57, 
Dakota, October 27, 1849, 
Dodge, February 20, 18.55, 
Douglas, March 8, 18.58, 
Faribault, F'br'ry 20, 1855, 
Fillmore, March 5, 18.53, 
Freeborn, F'br'ry, 20, 18.55, 
Goodhue, March 5, 1853, 
Grant, March 6, 1868, 
Hennepin, March 6, 1852, 
Houston, Feb'ry 23, 18.54, 
Hubbard, Feb'y 26, 1883, 
Isanti, February 13, 1857, 
Itasca. October 29, 1849, 
Jackson, Jlay 23, 1857, 
Kanabec, March 13, 1858, 
Kandiyohi, March 20, 18.58, 
Kittson, February 25, 1879, 
Lac qui Parle, Nov. 3, 1871, 
Lake, March 1, 1856, 
Le Sueur, March 5, 18.53, 
Lincoln, IMarch 6,1873, 
Lyon, November 2, 1869, 
McLeod, March 1, 1856, 



Martin, Jlay 23, 1857, 
Meeker, February 23, 1856, 
, Mille Lacs, May 23, 1857, 
Morrison, Febr'ry 25, 18.58, 
Mower, February 20, 1855, 
Murray, May 23, 18.57, 
Nicollet, March 5, 1853, 
Nobles, Jlay 23, 1857, 
Norman, Nov'mb'r29, 1881, 
Olmsted, February 20, 18.55, 
Otler Tail, JIarch 18, 1858, 
Pine, JIarch 31, 18.56, 
Pipestone, Jlay 23, 1857, 
Polk, July 80, 1858, 
Pope, February 20, 1863, 
Ramsey, October 27, 1849, 
Redwood, February 0, 1862, 
Renville, February 20, 1855, 
Rice, JIarch 5, 1853, 
Rock, JIarch 23, 1857, 
St. Louis, JIarch 1, 1856, 
Scott, JIarch 5, 1858, 
Sherburne, Feb'y 85, 1856 
Sibley, JIarch 5, 1853, 
Stearns, February 20, 1855, 
Steele, February 20, 18.55, 
Stevens, February 20, 1860, 
Swift, JIarch 4, 1870, 
Todd, February 20, 1862, 
Travers, February 20, 1862, 
Wabasha, October 37, 1849, 
Wadena, July 11, 1858, 
Waseca, February 27, 1857, 
Washington, Oct. 27, 1849, 
Watonwan, Nov. 6, 1860, 
Wilkin, JIarch 6, 1868, 
Winona, February 23, 1849, 
Wright, February 20, 1855, 
Yellow Jledicine, Novem- 
bers, 1871, 




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EEKER COU^NTY, 



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MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



149 




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BIOGRMPHIQMl H 



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"Tp^^ON. WILLIA 
>l ., ■- J *, a prominent 
jy^^ village of Li 



WILLIAM H. GREENLEAF, 
it lumber dealer of the 

•g,.. v.. .jitchtield, is one of the 
early pioneers of Meeker county who has 
risen to prominence through hisown unaitled 
efforts. lie is a native of Allegheny, now 
Livingston county. New York, born Decem- 
ber 7, 1834, and is the son of William and 
Elmira (Sanford) Greenleaf, natives of the 
Empire State and Vermont, respectively. 
Tiie Greenleaf family is of respectable antiq- 
uity in this country, the chain of ancestry 
having been traced back as follows: William 
Greenleaf, the father of our subject, was the 
son of Tilly Greenleaf and was born Decem- 
ber 23, 1797. Tilly was the son of Israel 
Greenleaf, and born March 25, 1770. Israel 
was born March 28, 1732, and was the son 
of Dr. Daniel Greenleaf, who was born No- 
vember 7, 1702, died July, 1795, and was the 
son of Eev. Daniel Greenleaf. The latter 
was the son of Stephen Greenleaf, Jr., and 
was born February 10, 1680, and died Au- 
gust 26, 1763, his father's birth having taken 
place August 15, 1652, and his death October 
13, 1743. Stephen Greenleaf, Sr., was born 
in 1630, and was the son of Edmund Green- 
leaf, and died December 1, 1690. llis father, 



Edmund, was born in the parish of Brixham, 
Devonshire, England, about 1600, and came 
with his family in 1635 to this country and 
settled at Newbury, in the colony of Massa- 
chusetts Bay. lie was the lineal descend- 
ant of an old French Huguenot family, who 
left theu" home in La Belle France on account 
of religious persecutions early in the sixteenth 
century, the name Greenleaf being a literal 
translation of their French name, Fuillevert. 
The subject of this personal memoir, Will- 
iam H., when he was but eight years of age, 
removed with his parents to, Jefferson county, 
Wisconsin, which in that year, 1843, was but 
a new country, where his father settled upon 
a farm. When he had attained the age of 
seventeen, William H. commenced attending 
school at the Fort Atkinson Academy, his 
earlier education having been derived from 
the common schools, and remained at that 
institution some two years, after which he 
acquired a knowledge of civil engineering. 
In 1856, during the Kansas troubles, he made 
a trip to that territory with a company raised 
by Prof. Daniels, for the assistance of the 
Free Soilers. He returned to Wisconsin 
where, in 1857, he was engaged as surveyor 
on the Wisconsin Central railroad. In the 



150 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



spring of 1858 he came to Meeker county and 
locateil upon section 30, Ellsworth township, 
where he put up a saw mill and improved the 
water power. He also took up a homestead 
on section 25, in Greenleaf township, which 
township was named in liis honor. A his- 
tory of his business operations while in the vil- 
lao-e of Greenleaf is given in detail elsewhere 
in this volume. While a resident of that place 
he was awakened at four o'clock on the morn- 
ing of August 18, 1862, and told the dread- 
ful tidings of murder and rapine that her- 
alded the terrible massacre of that eventful 
year, and as soon as possible took his wife 
and ten-months-old child to St. Paul for se- 
curity, and then returned to help make a 
stand against the red fiends who were de|)op- 
ulating the border. He stopped at Hutchin- 
son, where he went through the experience of 
border warfare with the people of that vil- 
lage and remained that fall. Pie then went 
to Minneapolis, where he made his home un- 
til March, 1864, and then returned to this 
county, where he has lived ever since. In 
the spring of 1872 he removed to Litchfield, 
and put up some of the first buildings in that 
town. In 1871 he entered into the general 
merchandise business in that "burg" in 
which he continued until 1876. In 1874 he 
was appointed receiver of the United States 
Land office at this jilace and continued in 
that office, having been reappointed in 187S, 
until 1879, when he resigned. In 1878 he 
purchased the lumber yard of M. J. Flynn, 
and in 1880 that of II. B. Brown, and consoli- 
dated the two, thus establishing his present 
business. In 18S2 the present firm was formed 
by the admission of his son, Charles A., to a 
full partnership. 

In the fall of 1870 Mr. Greenleaf was 
elected by the people of this district to rep- 
resent them in the State Legislature, and 
served continuously for three sessions in that 
capacity. In 1882 he was sent to the State 
Senate and for four vears was a member of 



that august body, looking sharply after the 
interests of his constituents. He was united 
in marriage September 27, 1859, with Miss 
Cordelia J. DeLong, the daughter of Hiram 
and Maria DeLong, the latter a niece of the 
celebrated revolutionary general, Ethan Al- 
len. Iler father is still living at Greenleaf 
village at the ripe old age of eighty-nine 
years. The result of this marriage has been 
four children — Charles A., of whom a sketch 
is given elsewhere; Jessie A., now Mrs. H. S. 
Branham ; and twins, Frankie and Fred, de- 
ceased. 

ORRIS Y. TAYLOR, an enterprising, 
prosperous and reliable farmer of 
Ellsworth township, has his home upon sec- 
tion 17. He settled on this place on coming to 
the county in 1874, and has now a fine farm 
of 246 acres of excellent arable land for the 
most part, 110 of which is under a high state 
of tillage. He carries on general farming, 
but gives considerable attention to dairy in- 
terests, keeping about thirty head of cattle, 
mostly of Ilolstein strains. 

Our subject is a native of Illinois, born in 
Vermilion county, October 8, 1850. He 
commenced life young, for when but sixteen 
years of age he hired out to work for ten dol- 
lars per month. His next move was to work 
for his board and go to school, with the set 
purpose of making up for the lack of earlier 
opportunity. In this way he acquii'ed the 
elements of an excellent education, taking a 
course or more in the higher branches, in the 
schools at Berrysville, Ind. He now com- 
menced farming in the neighborhood of Bis- 
marck. In the spring of 1870, having had 
an attack of some lung disease, he came to 
Minnesota and was engaged in lumberyards 
at Stillwater, but a few months later he moved 
to St. Paul and was engaged as chainman by 
a party of Government surveyors. This kind 
of business recuperating his health and being 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



151 



agreeable to him, he continued to follow it 
seven years in one capacity or another until 
he rose to be superintendent in charge of the 
party. The north shores of Lake Superior, 
the White Earth reservation, the Eed Eiver 
valley, and the Leach Lake reservation' were 
all the scenes of his labors. In 1877 he gave 
up his wandering and came to Meeker county, 
where he had settled, or rather bought a farm 
and worked it between his surveying expedi- 
tions. Here he remained until 1880, when 
he accepted the superintendency of the "No- 
bles county farm," of George L Seney, of New 
York, but the next year transferred his ser- 
vices to the executors of the Horace Thomp- 
son estate in the same capacity. For three 
yeai-s he managed one of their farms, and 
then came back here and has remained ever 
since. 

Mr. Taylor was married May 3, 1881, to 
Miss Fina Shuart, a native of Geauga county, 
Ohio, and daughter of William and Mary 
Ann Shuart, and by this union there have 
been three children — George S., Wilford B., 
and Marion. 

In his views Mr. Taylor is entirely free 
politically, and independent of party lines. 
He was elected to the office of town clerk 
in the spring of 18SS, and still holds that 
office. 



JTAMES SHELLEY. Among the promi- 
^ nent pioneers of Darwin township, and 
well-to-do farmers, there is none tliat has 
more influence in the community in which 
he Uves than the subject of this sketch. He 
has his residence upon section 26, on his fine 
farm of 500 acres, 120 of which are under a 
high state of cultivation, wliere he carries on 
agricultural pursuits. 

Mr. Shelley is a native of Ireland, born in 
County Tipperary, in the parish of Lough- 
more, where his fathers and ancestor's had 



lived from time immemorial. In 1848, that 
eventful year in Irish history, he left his na- 
tive land and disembarked at New York after 
a long voyage, and for over seven 3'ears was 
employed at Wilberham, Mass. At the ex- 
piration of that time he came West, and after 
one week spent in Wisconsin, settled in 
Meeker county. April 29, 1857, he took a 
claim by preemption, the northeast quarter 
of section 22, Darwin township. At that ■ 
time there were but eight or ten men settled 
here and the country was in its wild and 
primitive condition. After putting in his 
crop of potatoes, corn, etc., and working 
around some, he went to Minneapolis and 
fired on board the steamer H. M. Kice, then 
plying upon the river. Returning to his 
farm, he passed the winter here and made 
this his home until the Indian troubles of 
1862. Before this he had been accustomed 
to trade with the Sioux and found them 
peacefully inclined, althougli they would 
steal whatever they could lay their hands on. 
When he heard of the outbreak he was har- 
vesting, but at once went to Forest City, and 
tlie next morning started for Clearwater, 
where he went to work for Eugene Baldwin. 
Shortly after he came back and procured some 
of his things and returned to Clearwater. He 
was back and forth several times, and in the 
fall took some of his stock to Minneapolis, 
and then returned and passed the winter here. 
He then went to Minneapolis and remained 
nearly all the time, occasionally coming to 
his place to see about it, until the spring of 
1865, when he came to stay and lias lived on 
his place ever since. 

Mr. Shelley was married in 1866 to Miss 
Mary Vaughan, in Minneapolis, and by this 
union there have been born four children — ■ 
William, John, Daniel, and James, all of 
whom are still living. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Shelley are members of the Eoman Catholic 
Church and prompt in the fulfillment of their 
religious duties. 



152 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



^I^H" C. MARTIN, ex-judge of probate of 
M^^ Meeker county, is one of the most 
prominent attorneys at Litchfield. He is a 
native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where 
he was born on the 20th of January, 1843. 
His parents were Samuel M. and Martha 
(McGrew) Martin; the father a native of 
Pennsylvania, but who had come to Ohio 
wlien young ; the mother a native of Ohio. 
They both died when the subject of this 
sketch was six years old, and N. C. went to 
live with his grandmother, who was carrying 
on a farm. In ISfi-l she removed to Indiana 
and our subject remained on the farm, except 
the time he sjient in the army, until he was 
twenty-eight years of age. On the 2nd of 
June, 1862, N. C. Martin enlisted in Com- 
pany G, Eighty-sixth Ohio, and served dur- 
ing that year in "West Virginia. He was 
then mustered out of that regiment, and 
enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on 
the 20th of June, 1863. He served in West 
Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. 
He never missed a day's service during his 
army life, and was tinalh' mustered out as 
orderly sergeant on the 5th of March, 1864. 
In 1870 Mr. Martin began reading law at 
Bowling Green, Clay county, Ind., with 
Hon. E. Miles, now of Denver, Colorado. 
In 1871 he was admitted to the bar and in 
the spring of 1872 he established the Clay 
County Enterprise at Knightsville, in Ind- 
iana, a republican paper which is still run- 
ning, — the only republican paper in that 
county. Mr. Martin conducted that paper 
for one year, and a short time later he struck 
out for the West for the purpose of locating 
in Minnesota. After remaining a few days 
at St. Paul and Minneapolis he came to 
Litchfield, arriving August 20, 1873, and 
has since made that his home. While living 
at Knightsville, Indiana, he was married to 
Miss Clara S. Ward. Upon his arrival at 
Litchfield Mr. Martin first engaged in the 



law and real estate business, but in 1876 he 
established the Litchfield Independent and 
ran that as a greenback paper, supporting 
Peter Cooper for the presidency. He con- 
tinued in tlie newspaper business until June, 
1877, when he sold out, and the same fall 
was elected to the office of judge of probate 
of Meeker county on the greenback ticket. 
He was three times re-elected, the last time 
his nomination being endorsed by all the 
parties. He served from January 1, 1878. 
until January 1, 1887, and in the fall of 1887 
was unanimously renominated, but declined. 
Since that time Mr. Martin has given his 
attention wholly to the practice of law, also 
carrying on an extensive real estate and 
loan agency. He has alwa\'s taken an act- 
ive interest in all matters affecting the wel- 
fare of Litchfield. He was one of the prin- 
cipal workers in the original organization of 
the Frank Daggett Post, Grand Army of 
the Tiepublic, and has taken an active inter- 
est in its progress. He held tiie office of 
commander of the post for four successive 
terms, a fact which speaks for itself, as the 
office is one wliich is usually held but one 
term. In 1879 Mr. Martin was a candidate 
for Attorney General on the greenback ticket 
and for a number of years took a very active 
interest in political matters. Mr. and Mrs. 
Martin have seven children, Myrtle, Daisy, 
Clara Ma\', Belle, Emma, Nathan and an 
infant. 

JTOHN M. MOUSLEY, one of the earliest 
^ settlers of Meeker county, and an hon- 
ored and respected citizen of Ellsworth, has 
his residence upon section 22 of that town, 
where he first settled in 1S5S. He is a native 
of England, born in Manchester December 
6, 1827, and is the son of Samuel and 
Nancy (Mason) Mousley, natives, also, of 
"Albion." The family came to Canada in 
1851, and settled in Elgin count}^ where 




K.J 



^'^-^^ 




MERKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



155 



Samuel died of lung disease in 1864. He 
was born in 1792. His wife, who first saw 
tlie light in 1795, died in England in Novem- 
ber, 18-19. The father of our subject was a 
cotton dyer by trade, having learned the 
trade when a boy. He was an excellent 
citizen, a good Cliristian man and a kind 
neighbor. Both he and his estimable wife 
were meml^ers of the Church of England, or 
E[)isco])al Churcli. They were the parents of 
five children — James, Alfred, Jane, John and 
Alice. 

The subject of this narrative continued 
to make his home beneath the parental 
roof until the spring of 1842, when, although 
but fourteen years of age, he crossed the 
briny deep to Canada, where he had an uncle 
living, with whom he made his home for 
some eight years. During this time he as- 
sisted in the work upon the farm and at- 
tended the common schools, receiving there- 
from the elements of a fair education. 

Most of this was obtained under difficulties, 
as hai'd and persistent work was tiie order of 
the da\'. He finally commenced to learn the 
blacksmith's trade with McPherson, Glasgow 
& Co., but after the expiration of his three 
years' apprenticesliip returned to his uncle's, 
working for him in the summer. He then 
took u[) liis trade in the employ of several 
parties, and continued tlius emplo^^ed until 
he came to this county, in 1858, as detailed 
above. After taking his claim of 160 acres 
of land, the next spring he went to St. Paul 
and went to work for one Frank Gilnian in 
a foundry. With what he earned he pur- 
chased a yoke of oxen and tlie various tools 
he would need, and returned here and com- 
menced the development of his farm, and 
has seen it grow from pristine wiidness to 
its present condition. Pie has since that, once 
or twice, worked at his trade, but only for 
short periods. 

Mr. Mousley was married in April, 1S64-, 
to Miss Catherine Doane, a native of Canada, 



born in 1841, who died in January, 1872, 
leaving four children — James Alfred, Hattie 
Jane, Fi-ank M.,and Alice Ann. Hattie died 
in the spring of ISSl, when some fifteen 
years old ; and Alice died August 26, 1886. 
Mr. M. has held the offices of town su]ier- 
visor, town clerk and scliool clerk for years. 

Tp)ETER MARTENSON is engaged in 
I^ farming on section 25, Litchfield town- 
ship. He is a son of Marten and Annie Isaac- 
son, and was born in Sweden, on the 27th of 
February, 1845. Peter was engaged in farm- 
ing with his father in the old country until 
1869, when he started for America. He 
came direct to Meeker county, Minn., and 
purchased a tract of railroad land on section 
25, in Litchfield township. During the win- 
ter of 1871-2 he re-visited the fatherland, 
but the pleasure of his visit was marred by 
the death of his father on the very day that 
he arrived at the old home. In the spring 
of 1872, he was married to Ellen Larson, a 
daughter of Lars and Ellen Peterson, and 
in the following May he returned to the 
United States, and to his Meeker county 
home. Four children have been the fruits 
of their marriage, as follows: Louis, born 
October 14, 1872; John, born March 29, 
1876; Henry, born September 6, 1879: and 
Annie, born April 2, 1882. 

Like others in iiis neighborhood, Mr. 
Martenson has sutt'ered from grasshoj)pers 
and hailstorms, but his industry and perse- 
verance have enabled him to recover from 
these reverses and he is now in comfortable 
circumstances. 



J^^iCHAEL DELANEY, a prosperous 
jPLi^L 'I'ld industrious farmer of Ells- 
worth township, residing upon section 16, 
came to Meeker county in 1877, and located 
on the place where his home now is. He had 



156 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



pui'cliaseil the land sdine time previous to 
this, but he has made iiearh' all, if not all, the 
improvements here, and he has now a mag- 
nificent ])ropertv consisting of 342 acres 
h'ing in tiiis and (ireenleaf townsiiips. lie 
is giving a large share of his attention to 
stock-raising, principally to half and three- 
quarter-bred Durham, llolstein and Jersey 
cattle. His home is one of the most beauti- 
ful in the township, and attracts the atten- 
tion of even the most casual observer. 

Mr. Delaney is a native of Ireland, born in 
County Leitrim, July 28, 1828, and is the 
son of Bernard and Catiierine (McWeeny) 
Delaney, both of whom died in that "ever 
verdant isle," the mother' in 1863, the father 
in 1873, at theage of ninety years. Bernard 
Delaney was a farmer ancl followed that 
business as best he could in that oppressed 
land. lie was the ])arent of but two chil- 
dren, Bernard and Michael. 

The latter, the subject of this biography, 
was reared among the beautiful scenery of 
the West of Ireland, but on attaining man- 
hood felt that he must seek in other countries 
the freedom from the Saxon's yoke that has 
oppressed that island for seven centuries, and 
accordingly, in 1852, emigrated to the United 
States, landing in New York. From there, 
after stopping a short time in New Haven, 
Conn., he went to the State of Virginia, 
where he was engaged in railroad construc- 
tion for four years. His next move was to 
Minneapolis, where he arrived in 1856, and 
made his home until 1877, except a year spent 
in Kentucky and Tennessee. At the date 
last mentioned he moved to Meeker county. 

Mr. Delaney was united in marriage in 
June, 1858, with Miss Mary Garvey, a native 
County Mayo, Ireland, who had come to the 
United States a short time before. Ihe 
ceremony took place in St. Anthony, now 
Miiin(-a])iilis. By this uni(jn they have had 
seven ciiildren, six of whom survive: Mar}', 
who is a teacher in tiic St. Paul schools; 



John, teaching in Swift County, this State; 
Kate, who is teachmg the school in District 
68, Litchfield township; Hannah, who is 
teaching in District '(i^, Ellsworth ; Nellieand 
Antliony William. 

TprON. JAMES B. ATKINSON, one of 
'_^S8L the pioneers of JNIeeker county, as 
well as one of the most prominent citizens, is 
a native of Kingston, Canada, born November 
13, 1822. His parents were both natives of 
Yorkshire, England, but came to America 
in 1821, landing in New York, from whence 
they proceeded to Canada, where James B. 
was born. About a year later the}^ removed 
to Black Rock, N. Y., where they remained 
for about nine years. The father was a 
stone mason by trade, and during this time 
was contracting on canal bridges and other 
heavy work. Later, he purchased a large 
farm near Freeport, Penn., where he lived 
until the time of his death. The parents of 
James B. had four children, three of whom 
are still living — two in Minnesota and one 
in Kansas. 

James B. Atkinson remained athomew'ith 
his parents until eighteen years of age, at- 
tending common schools most of the time. 
At the age referred to he began learning the 
printer's trade at Freeport, following that at 
various places until he was twenty-two, when 
he returned home and rented a farm for 
twentj'-one months. The firet fall from this 
experiment, the hay crop cleared him $600 
above all expenses, including the rent for 
the full time. The following winter, March 
20, 1845, he was married to Miss Abbie 
Sholes, of Allegheny City, Penn., Init re- 
mained on the farm until tiie followin"- fall, 
when he moved into Frt'(>p(>i't and opened a 
butcher shoj). Five oi' six yeais latei-, he 
sold out and began his aftciward extensive 
business of i-ailroad contracting. His first 
contract was one for $8,000 on the Allegheny 



iMEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



157 



Valley road ; next on the North-Western, 
now Pennsylvania, and from that to the Iron 
Mountain, on which he had a contract for over 
$100,000. His next move was to return to 
Freeport, where he bought a stock of general 
merchandise and conducted that business for 
one year. He then came West in search of 
a location, and spent some time in travelling 
through the eastern part of Iowa. In the 
.spring of 1856, he decided to come to Min- 
neapolis, and, being pleased with the prospect 
there, he returned to New York for goods, 
was taken sick and laid up for three months. 
For this reason he did not get back to Min- 
neapolis until August of that year and the 
.same fall came out to Rockford and took up 
a claim, where he remained thirty days. The 
town of Rockford had been laid out only that 
iSpring : game was abundant and the pros- 
pect generally fine. After returning to 
Minneapolis, where he remained some six 
weeks, he went East for his family. His 
Jiousehold goods were packed and shipped 
West, but the goods never arrived, nor have 
they ever been seen or heard of since. Early 
in the year 1857, he made his first trip to 
Meeker county, driving through with a team, 
bringing a load of goods and working his 
way through the " Big Woods." Upon his 
.arrival he located at Forest City. The coun- 
ty had just been organized and that country 
village, being the county seat, was the prin- 
cipal point within its limits, although there 
were neither business nor business houses 
there at that time. Mr. Atkinson, liaving 
brought the first goods to the county, went 
immediately to work getting up a building. 
He then returned to Minneapolis for the 
balance of his goods. 

Having, like all others, taken up a claim, 
lie placed his family upon it, and going back 
to St. Paul, proved up on it, paid for it, and 
returning with more goods, removed to the 
village, where he opened his store for busi- 
ness, about March 1, 1857. He, the follow- 



ing fall, erected the hotel, which he ran in 
connection with his other businesses until 
1879. The store was kept by him until 
1865, when he disposed of it to his partner, 
he having taken Mark W. Piper in with him 
in 1862. During the winter of 1861-2 Mr. 
Atkinson made a trip to Pike's Peak, but 
came home, arriving at Forest City, August 

I, just seventeen days previous to the Indian 
outbreak. At the time of the organization 
of the' "Home Guanls," at Forest City 
he was elected first lieutenant. The night 
previous to the attack u])on the stockade, 
ammunition being short, he volunteered to 
go after a supply, and starting after night, 
alone, traveled throug'h the "Bio' Woods,'* 
beset with savage enemies, but, although 
aware of his peril, would not quail or flinch. 
His undaunted courage carried hmi through 
safely, and procuring powder, lead, and 
soldiers to relieve the garrison, he returned. 
He had previous to this, in company with 
Geo. C. Whitcomb, been raising a company 
for the Sixth Minnesota Infantry, but the 
outbreak stopped jiroceedings. He then 
enlisted and served as private and scout, 
althougli favored by his superior officers to a 
degree unknown elsewliere, on account of 
his social position and certain promises made 
to him but not fulfilled, in Company D, 
Second Cavalry. He remaineil with them 
until the close of hostilities with the red- 
skins, when he was given a commission to 
recruit men at St. Paul. After following 
this for a time he raised a company which 
was mustered into the service as Company 

II, First Minnesota Heavy Artillery, with 
which he served as cajitain, being stationed 
chietiy at Chattanooga, until the close of the 
war. 

Captain Atkinson has filled many offices 
of trust and honor in this coinmunit}'; he 
was the representative in the Legislatui'e in 
1857 and 1858, has filled the office of mem- 
ber of the board of county commissioners, 



158 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



served <as town sn]iervisor for years, was 
sheriff for three years, town assessor for 
seventeen years, and occupied tlie position 
of justice of tlie peace for nearly a quarter 
of a century. He is the parent of eiglit 
children : Hannah Elizabeth, Mrs. J. W. 
McKean, of Indianapolis, Ind.; Charlotte M., 
Mrs. Henry Clinton, of Las Vegas, Cal.; 
Abigail A., now Mrs. E. H. Hull, living at 
Mineapolis; Frank, now Mrs. T. Tiichardson, 
of Forest City;Chai-les II., of the same place; 
Kate, Mrs. C. E. Bai'kam, of Dallas, Tex.; 
Jessie B., Mis. Charles Boynton, of Forest 
City; and .lames B., Jr., at home, .-^ih- 



^ M N DREW S. MATTSON, a jn-osper- 
_^^L ous farmer whose land adjoins the 
village of Litchfield, is a native of Sweden, 
born Se})tember 7, 1852. His parents were 
Swan and Margaretta Mattson, who came to 
the United States with their family in 1858 
and located in Carver county, Minn., where 
they were among the pioneers. A year or 
so after their settlement there, Mr. Mattson, 
the father died, and in 1859 Mrs. Mattson 
removed with her family to Meeker county 
and claimed eighty acres of Government land 
on Section 10, in Ness (now Litchfield) town- 
ship. AV^hen the Indian outbreak began, she 
removed to St. Paul, and remained there 
until after the close of hostilities, when she re- 
turned to her land in Meeker county, erected a 
small house and commenced improvements. 
She made this her home until 1885. She 
was married to Nels M. Pearson in 1867, and 
is now a resident of Darwin township. 

Andrew S., the subject of this sketch, lived 
with his mother until they moved to Darwin, 
when the mother conveyed the farm to 
him. Since that time he has added about 
$1,150 in building improvements, and other- 
wise added to the value of the farm. He 
now has 1 15 acres of good land within eighty 



rods of the incorporated limits of Litchfield 
village, where he carries on general farming- 
and stock-raising. 

[^ONORABLE EVEN EVENSON, the 
jiresent representative of Meeker 
county in the Lower House of the State 
Legislature, resides on section 8, in Gi-een- 
leaf townshiji, and is one of the most prom- 
inent citizens of the county. He is a native 
of Norway, and was born on the 21st of 
November, 184-4. His parents were Hans 
and Chi'istine Evenson, who came to Ameri- 
ca in 1857, settling first in Scott county,. 
Minn., where they remained one year, and 
then removed to Wright County, where 
they resided for two years, after which, in 
1860, they settled in Meeker County, Minn., 
the father pre-empting a quarter of sec- 
tion 8 in the ])resent township of Green- 
leaf. A full history of the father and other 
member's of the family will be found in 
another department of this work. The fam- 
ily consisted of father, mother and five chil- 
dren. Even being the eldest son. 

At the time of the Indian outbreak ia 
1862, Even was residing with his parents on. 
the homestead. Although not j^et eighteen 
years of age, he was a careful observer of 
events, and on the memorable 17th of Aug- 
ust was in attendance on the war meeting at 
the old Pipley postoffice. That night he 
was one of the fearless little band of settlers, 
who went to the Jjaker and Jones residences- 
and discovered the horrible butchery which 
the savages had committed so near their own 
doors. He remained with the squad that 
night and the following day, and, later in 
the same week, went with the family to 
Forest City, where he was doing guard duty 
when the Indians attacked the place in the 
night. A sentinel named Henry L. Smith 
was the first man to I'eturn the fire of the 
savages, and the second shot was fired by 
Even. Diirinii' the folliiwino; vear, Even 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



159 



worked in St. Paul suid Anoka, and in the 
fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company' I, Sec- 
ond Minnesota Cavalry. The regiment was 
assigned to duty on the frontier, and Even 
went with a detachment of his company as es- 
cort of Captain Fisk's immigrant train to the 
Idaho gold fields, and went as far as Fort Rice 
in Dakota. He remained with the command, 
doing frontier service until the fall of 1805, 
when he was mustered out. He returned 
to the old homestead, and has since re- 
mained there, with the exception of the sum- 
mer of 1867, when he was emplo3^ed near 
St. Paul. 

In November, 1869, Mr. Evenson Avas mar- 
ried to Helen Danielson, a daughter of Nels 
and Randi Danielson, who wei-e among tlie 
first settlers in Meeker county. She was 
boi,'n in Norway on the 28th of October, 1847. 
During the Indian outbreak she had a thrill- 
ing and dangerous adventure, she being one 
of the two women who were left in the thicket 
all night while the settlers were flying for 
their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Evenson have been 
blessed with seven children, the tliiril born 
of whom, Robert E., is dead. The othei's 
are as follows: Henry Nicholas, liorn Octo- 
ber 24, 1871; Carl Richard, born December 
17, 1873; Robert B., born July 27,1877; 
Elmer Emanuel, born August 13, 1879; 
Anna Bertha, born September 25, 1881; and 
Nels Oscar, born April 13, 1 884. The family 
are members of the Ness Norwegian Luth- 
eran Church. 

Mr. Evenson's life has nx)t only been a 
busy one, but an unusually useful one as well. 
Besides tilling various township offices, he 
has filled the office of county commissioner 
for eight years, the last four years of which 
time he was honored with the chairmanship 
of that body. He made a careful and effi- 
cient member of the board, and dui'ing his 
service was recognized as second to none in 
point of ability or influence. In 1886 Mr. 
Evenson was elected to represent Meeker 



county in the Lower House in the XXVth 
Legislature on the republican ticket, and he 
has proven well worthy tlie trust rej)osed in 
him, making a record satisfactory to his con- 
stituents and highly creditable to himself. 
His ability was recognized in the formation 
of the House Committees as he was placed 
upon the Committees on Education, Deaf, 
Dumb and Blind Institute, and on Roads, 
Bridges and Navigable Streams. 

When the State Board of Trade was in 
existence Mr. Evenson was appointed by 
Judge Brown to represent the Twelfth Judi- 
cial District in that body, the most important 
work of which was the recommendation to 
the Letjislature for the establishment of the 
State grain inspection system. 

A portrait of Mr. Evenson will be found 
upon another page in this Alisum. 

K&riLLIAM HUKRIEDE, the genial pro- 



y0Sl. ]irietor of the Mansard House, the 
leading hotel of Eden Valley, is a native of 
West])halia, Germany, born September 4, 
1838. He was reared in that classic land, 
I'eceiving in youth the education which is 
the birthright of the rising generation of his 
fatherland. He was there, in 1860, married 
to Miss Mary Christopher, a native of West- 
phalia, Germany, and daughter of Henry 
and Lizzie Christopher. In 1873, with his 
family, he emigrated to America, and pur- 
chasing a farm on section 23, in Manannah 
township, commenced life here. On this 
place he made his home until the fall of 
1887, when, in connection with his son Hen- 
ry, he came to Eden Valley and bought the 
Mansard House, and has continued at the 
head of its affairs ever since. Mr. Hulvriede 
has a family of eight children, as follows: 
Fred, born May 28, 1861 ; Henry, whose 
sketch is given elsewhere in this volume; 
Reka, born October 6, 1865; William, born 
February 1, 1808 ; Ernest, born January 28, 



i6o 



MEEKEK COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



1871; Aup:ust, born April 15, 1873; Minnie, 
born ]\[;ircli 1, lS7<t; and Annie, born JS'o- 
vember 14, 1878. 



J'iilENRY HUKRIEDE, the partner of his - 
^H|J father in the proprietorship of the 
Mansard House and who is, also, engaged in 
operating a blacksmith's sho]) in Eden Val- 
ley, is a native of "Westphalia, German}^, 
born January 5, 1863, and is the second son 
of William and Mary(Christopher)Hukriede. 
lie came to the United States in 1873, with 
his parents, and remained upon their fann 
until the spring of 1882, when he went to 
Litchfield and tiiere learned the blacksmith's 
trade. In thespringof 1886, became to Eden 
Valley wliile the graders were still at work 
here and bofore tlie iron upon the i-ailroad was 
laid and started a blacksmith's shop, and has 
followed that trade ever since. In 1887, in 
connection with his father, he bought the 
hotel and maintains connection therewith. 

JOHANNES OLSEN, a well-to-do and re 
spected farmer, residing on section 32, 
Acton township, is a nativeof Norway, born 
January 31, 1837, and a son of Ole and 
Sophia Johnson. He came to the United 
States in 1857, and first stopped at St. Paul, 
where he hired to a man, named Fred Erick- 
son, wiio held a Government contract for fur- 
nishing hay. Tliey cut tiie hay on the Minne- 
sota liiver bottoms near P'oit Snelling, and 
the ground was so wet that tliey were 
obliged to carry it on poles to higher land for 
stacking. After spending some time in this 
way, he, with six others, went to Howard 
Lake, Wright county, and selected claims. 
Two of the ))arty remained during the win- 
ter to make the improvements necessary to 
hold the claims, while the others returned to 
St. Paul to earn and send provisions to their 
two comrades. The following spring Mr. 01- 
sen returned to his claim, expecting to find a 



house erected and other improvements, but 
as nothing had been done he went back to 
St. Paul to find work. He had a hard and dis- 
couraging time of it, but in the fall he secured 
a job on tiie railroad between St. Anthony and 
St. Cloud, and on the southeast side of the 
Minnesota Tliver, above Mendota. This was a 
very wet season, and they were obligexl to lay 
plank tracks in order to run their wheelbar- 
rows. Heturning tlien to St. Paul he did not 
succeed in finding employment until after 
Christmas when he got work cutting cord 
wood, which lasted until spring. His next move 
was to Point Douglas, where he hired to a 
farmer for six months at $10 per month. At 
the expiration of that time he returned to 
St. Paul and woi'ked at building Hat boats, 
and in the spring went with them to St. 
Louis, where he was paid off. During the 
summer he worked at farming on Paint 
Creek Prairie, Alhunakee county, Iowa, and 
split and cut rails during tiie winter. Tiie 
following spring — April 1-f. 1800 — he was 
married to Miss Mary Paulson, a daughter 
of Mathias and Mary Paulson. After his 
marriage he rented a fann for two years, but 
the first season the chinch bugs destroyed 
most of his crop. In 1864 he came to Meeker 
county, Minn., and took a homestead 
on section 32, Acton township, wliei'e he 
has since lived. 

Mr. and Mrs. Olsen have been blessed with 
the following children — Mathias, born No- 
vember 10, 1862, died July 15, 1885 ; Sophia 
Elizabeth, born October 12, 1864 ; Ole, born 
March 15, 1867 ; Paul Emanuel, born Sep- 
tember 17, 1869; and Carl Johan, born Feb- 
ruary 16, 1877. The family are members of 
the Norwegian Lutheran Church. In politi- 
cal matters Mr. Olsen affiliates with the re- 
publican party. Both of Mr. Olsen's parents 
died in Norway. His wife's parents are also 
deceased — the father, Mathias Paulson, died 
in Acton July 26, 1883; and the mother 
died September 19, 1880. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



i6i 



JI^ARTIN HOUK, a Avell-known, suc- 
J^J.^^ ccssf 111 and highly respected fanner, 
residing on section 3G, Ilarvey township, was 
born in Owen county, Ind., on the 3d of 
November, 1844, and is a son of John and 
Evelin (Grouse) Houk. His parents still re- 
side in his native State. 

Martin, the subject of this sketch, grew to 
manhood in his native State, working on a 
farm and attending school, according to the 
facilities of that day. He was married in 
Indiana on the 23d of January, 1870, to Miss 
Mary F. Doll, and in 1874, with his wife and 
two children, started for the West, arriv- 
ing in Meeker county, Minn., on the 15th 
of October, 1871. He first settled in Man- 
annah township and remained there for one 
year, and then removed to Harvey town- 
ship, settling on section 36, where he has 
since lived. He has three brothers living in 
Meeker county. 

Mrs. Honk's parents resitle in Harvey 
township, Meeker county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Honk are the parents of 
seven children — five girls and two boys — all 
of whom are living. Their names are as 
follows: James F., Josephine, Alice M., Eve- 
lin, Henrietta, Jessie and Marcus R. 



-«J- 



^^IMON MAYER, residing on section 2.3, 
"^^^ is an ex-Union soldier, and is one of 
the most prominent and successful farmers 
and stock-raisers in Union Grove. He is a son 
of Gregor and Mary (Winterholden) Mayer, 
and was born in Wiirtemberg, Germany, on 
the 20th of October, 1834. His parents died 
when he was fifteen years old, and he was 
apprenticed to learn the turner's trade. 
When he was eighteen years old, in 1852, 
he came to the United States and for three 
years worked at his trade in New York city 
and in Paterson, N. J., after which he came 
to St. Paul, where he remained for two days, 
but as he could not find work, he left his 



trunk at the hotel and walked to Stillwater, 
one Sunday night. He secured work on a 
raft and made three trips to St. Louis, thus 
spending one summer. He next worked on 
farms and spent one winter in the pineries; 
also worked for L. D. Bartlett, running a 
ferry from Lakeland to Hudson, for several 
summers. In the fall of 1801 he went to 
Fort Sneliing and enlisted for tliree years in 
Company B, Third Minnesota Volunteer In- 
fantry, and went Soutii the same fall. He 
participated in many skirmishes, but not in 
any pitched battle. When his three years 
were ended he re-enlisted at Little Rock, Ark. 
Tiie Third was surrendered to General For- 
rest at Murfreesboro and was paroled and 
sent to Benton Barracks, Mo., and from there 
was sent to the relief of the settlers in Min- 
nesota, and started for Forest City. Seven- 
ty-five men of the Third reported at Forest 
City. A history of their movements will be 
found in the chapter devoted to the Indian 
troubles. When they landed at Fort Sneli- 
ing Governor Ramsey made them a speech 
and requested them to march for Forest City 
that night, whicii they did. From this cam- 
paign they went to Sibley Camp, Fort Ridge- 
ly, and joined Sibley in liis expedition through 
the JNorthwest. Mr. Mayer participated in 
the bloody fight at Wood Lake. The Third 
Regiment left Sibley and joined Governor 
Marshall, and captured the Indians who were 
hung at Mankato. January 15, 1863, Mr. 
Mayer returned Soutii and served until Au- 
gust, 1865, when he was mustered out at 
Fort Sneliing. 

He then went to Hudson, AVis., and was 
married to Ellen Moody, October 16, 1865. 
She was a daughter of Arnold and Olive 
Moody, and was born November 16, 1849. 
Mr. and Mrs. Mayer have been the i>arents 
of two children, as follows: William, born 
January 11, 1868 ; Delia, born October 4, 
1873. 

Mr. Mayer is a republican in political mat- 



l62 



MI-EKEK COUNTY, M/X.VESOTA . 



ters, imd has taken an active and prominent 
part in township aff.iirs. He has held vui'i- 
ous to\viishi|) ottices, iiaving been cliairnian 
of tiie supervisors tliree years, school treas- 
urer twent3'-one years, road overseer, and in 
other minor positions. lie is one of the best 
posted and most intelhgent men in the town- 
ship, and is a careful business man. lie 
stands high, wherever he is known, for his 
integrity and uprightness, and is one of the 
leading citizens of his townshij). 

Mr. Mayer now owns 500 acres of land, a 
£rood deal of which is under cultivation, and 
he has good building improvements. 

,RS. ELIZABETH GARDNER of Das- 
sel township, came to Meeker 
county in July, ISGtS, with her brother-in-law, 
Andrew Davidson, bringing with her her 
only child, Petei", who was then f<air years 
of age. She, at once, took up a homestead 
of eighty acres of land on section 1-1-, Das- 
sel townslii|), where she has since made her 
home. She is the widow of Bradford (xard- 
ner. 

The husband of oui' sul)ject was a native 
of Pennsylvania, who, when a young man. 
came west to AVisconsin and settled, where 
he was united in marriage with Elizabeth 
McCalister, a native of Scotland, born in 
Whitehorn, Wigton Shair, 1836, who had 
come to America in 1855 and subsequently 
located at Caledonia, Wisconsin. After' 
their mairiage they lived in Sauk County, 
in the "Badger State," until November 20, 
1863, when Mr. Gardner, being drafted, 
entered Company I), P'irst Wisconsin Infant- 
rv as a I'ecruit and served with that gallant 
re<'-iment until the battle of Buzzard's Roost, 
in the Atlanta campiign, when he fell mor- 
tally wounded, and died in the hospital at 
Chattanooga, Tennessee, September S, 18G4. 
Filling an honored soldier's grave, his life 
offered up a sweet sacrifice upon the altar of 



his country, his mission on earth was accom- 
plished, and while the comrades regret his 
loss, they dare not murmur against the de- 
cree of the Most High, that snatched him 
from liis loving widow and his boy. 

Mrs. Gardnei' and her son remained at 
their home in Wisconsin until they came to 
Minnesota, grieving after the brave soldier 
who had lain down his life in defense of his 
country and who is enshrined in every patri- 
ot's breast. 

Peter has always remained with his be- 
loved mother. He was born in Sauk county, 
Wis., May 14, 1862, and was married De- 
cember 24, 1885, to Miss Sarah Ai-rowood, 
a native of IMinnesota, and daughter of G. 
D. and Louisa Arrowood, natives of North 
Carolina and Kentucky, who came to this 
town in 1865. 



OHN CHRISTENSON, a highly re- 
spected and successful farmer residing 
on section 32, Union Grove township, was 
born in Sweden, on the 22dof August, 1828, 
and is a son of Christen and Bets}' Eliason. 
His early life was spent in the land of his 
birth, where he acquired the habits of indus- 
ti'y, economy and integi'ity which are char- 
acteristic of the people of his nationality. 
In 1868 he came to the United States with 
his family and came to Meeker county, 
Minn., where he took a homestead of eighty 
acres on section 6, Swede Grove townsh'p. 
Seven years later he moved to section 5, 
where he bought 280 acres of railroad land, 
and lived there until the si)ring of 1887, 
when he settled upon his present farm on 
section 32, Union Grove township, having 
purchased eighty acres there in 1SS6. He 
has divided the rest of his land among his 
children, giving them a start in the world. 

Mr. Christenson was married on the 27tli 
of December, 1850, to Miss Anna Pehrson, 
and their union has been blessed with ten 




-^, f? 



^'lA^^^^^z^^L^^-iy 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



165 



children, as follows : Christoplier, born Oc- 
tober 3, 1852; Hannah, born February 5, 
1855 ; Elias, born May 14, 1857 ; Ella, born 
May 27, 1859; Nels, born April 2, 1861, 
died August, 1861 ; Nels J"., born June 28, 
1862; Andrew, born September 28, 1864; 
Alfred, born May 12, 1866, died July 1, 
1868 ; Alfred, born July 12, 1868, and Her- 
man, born July 19, 1870. 



"•V' "1 



«»^ 



kOCTOR V. P. KENNEDY, of Litch- 
field, besides being a pioneer, is one of 
the .best known citizens in this part of the 
State. Doctor Kennedy was born in Butler 
county, Penn., on the 11th of July, 1824. 
"When he was five years of a,ge his parents 
removed to and became pioneers of Indiana, 
where the subject of this sketch remained 
until 1856. His younger days were spent 
upon a farm, but when twenty-one he entered 
the Asbury University at Greeneastle, Ind., 
where he spent two years, and then went to 
Rockville, Ind., where he began the study 
A year later he went to 
; later to Chicago, and in 1851 



of medicine. 
Louisville, Ky 
finished his course 



Rush Medical College. 



and graduated from 
\\\ 1875 he took an 
ad-eundum degree at the Bellevue Hospital 
College, New York. 

Doctor Kennedy's parents were Martin 
and Elinor [Pellett] Kennedy. The father 
died when the Doctor was ten and the 
mother when he was six years of age. He 
was then thrown upon his own resom-ces and 
for a time lived with an uncle ; but when 
sixteen he left iiis uncle's roof and began the 
battle of life on his own account. In June, 
1856, he came to Meeker county, Minn., and 
took the same claim which had been held by 
Dr. Frederick N. Rijjley, which is mentioned 
at length elsewhere in this volume. Ripley 
had been frozen to death in March of that 
year. Dr. Kennedy at once Ijegan improve- 
ments in a light way, building a little cabin 



on the place, but he lived in Cedar City, 
McLeod county, until the spring of 1857, 
when he settled on his claim. During the 
season of 1856 he had " broke " some land 
and raised a few potatoes, the Indians, how- 
ever, getting the benefit of his labor. Doctor 
Kennedy remained on his claim until the 
fall of 1860, when he was elected to the State 
Legislature. He was re elected in the fall 
of 1861. In the spring of 1862 he entered 
the United States service as surgeon of the 
Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and 
remained with his regiment until the 1st of 
May, 1865, when he was mustered out at 
Montgomery', Ala. The following summer 
was spent upon his farm, and in the fall he 
received the appointment of physician for 
the Chippewa Indians at Red Lake, and 
remained there from November, 1865, until 
March, 1867. He again returned to Meeker 
county, and bought what was known as the 
Cedar Mill and ran that until 1869, when he 
came to Litchfield and resumed the practice 
of his profession. In 1880 he went to Brown 
county D. T., and took a claim, but 
continued his practice at Litchfield until 
1883, when he removed to Ordway, D. 
T., and engaged in the drug business, 
also becoming postmaster. In the fall 
of 1885 he was elected to the Dakota 
Senate and took an active interest in shap- 
ing Territorial legislation. In the spring of 
1886 his family returned to Litchfield and 
for some time the Doctor was back and 
forth between the two points, but the latter 
place is now his home. 

Doctor Kennedy was first married on the 
19th day of July, 1S49, to Miss Julia A. 
Rudisell, who died July 13, 1854. This 
union was blessed with two children, one of 
whom is now living, Julia A., wife of Nim- 
rod Barrick, who lives at the Doctor's origi- 
nal claim in Meeker county. Dr. Kennedy 
was again married, on the 2d of July, 1860, 
to Caroline Rudisell, a sister of his first wife. 



i66 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



They have three children now living — 
Milford P., who lives on a farm in Daivota ; 
Harry M. and Lewis H., who are attending 
university at Minneapolis. 

Doctor Kennedy is an active member of 
tlie Grand Army of the Republic. At the 
annual encampment in 1887 he was elected 
medical 'director for the department of 
Minnesota and served for one year. He is 
also a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
having joined Golden Fleece Lodge in the 
fall of 1875. He is prominently identified 
with the State Medical Association and is 
recognized as one of the best educated and 
most experienced members of the medical pro- 
fession in this part of the State. During late 
years, however, he has devoted his attention 
chiefly to his extensive farming interests, 
having 360 acres in this county all of which 
is improved ; and 640 acres in Dakota, with 
400 under cultivation. 



l''-)? ARL NELSON, the subject of the pres- 
ent biographical notice, is a respected 
and enterprising farmer and stock raiser, 
who resides on section 10, Danielson town- 
ship. He is a son of Nels and Karen 
Madson, and was born in Denmark on the 
20th of August, 1849. His early life was 
spent in his native land, where he remained 
until 1866, when he came to the United 
States with his parents, and settled in Steele 
county, Minn. A year later, in July, 1867, 
they removed to Meeker county, and the 
father took a homestead on section 8, in 
Danielson township, in which township there 
was only six settlers at that time. Here the 
father died in October, 1872, and the mother 
in April, 1885. 

After his father's death, Carl went to St. 
Paul and worked at different kinds of em- 
ployment for about two years, when he re- 
turned to the homestead and remained with 
his mother until the 4th of June, 1882, when 



he was married to Miss Anna Marie Mad- 
son. She was born March 19, 1860, and is a 
daughter of Martin and Anna Marie Mad- 
son, who are residents of Danielson. By 
this marriage, Carl Nelson and wife have 
been the parents of two children — Minnie, 
born June 11, 1883, and Nels, born Novem- 
ber 30, 1885. Tlie family are members of 
the Presbyterian church. 

Mr. Nelson now lias a valuable farm, of 
which he lias considerable under cultivation, 
and has a comfortable home. He has the 
farm well stocked and devotes his energies 
to diversified farming and stock raising. By 
economy and industry' he has placed himself 
in comfortable circumstances, and is justly 
rated as one of the leading citizens of his 
township. He has taken an active interest 
in township affairs, and has held various 
local offices, including those of supervisor 
and road overseer. 




HE WELL-KNOWN and able editor 
the Litchfield News-Ledger, W. D. 
JouBERT, is a native of Fon du Lac county, 
Wis., born in September, 1852. His par- 
ents were Stephen and Elizabeth Joubert ; 
the father of French descent, but born in 
Montreal, Canada, and the mother a native 
of New York. Stephen Joubert was a car- 
penter by trade. He was one of the pioneers 
of Hudson, Wis., but is now a resident of 
Traverse county, Minn. 

W. D. Joubert had but little schooling ad- 
vantages, until he was nine years of age, but 
from that time until he was fifteen, the most 
of his time was spent in school. When he 
was fifteen. he began life on his own account 
and began learning the printer's trade with 
Daggett & Rose, at Wabasha, Minn. He 
remained with them for three years and then 
went to LaCrosse, Wis. Later we find him 
at Minneapolis, where, for several months, 
he worked on the Minneapolis Hews, then 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



167 



edited by George K. Shaw. From there, in 
April, 1872, with Franli Daggett, the man 
under whom he had learned his trade, he 
came to Litchfield, and started the Litchfield 
Ledger, wliich has since become the News- 
Ledger. 

Mr. Joubert was married December 3, 
1881, to Miss Ida Kline, of Kingston, Meeker 
county. They now have one child — Ethel,, 
who is five years of age. Mr. Joubert is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, having 
joined the Golden Fleece Lodge in 1873, and 
is quite active in promoting the interests of 
the organization. He is also a member of 
the fire company, and was one of the princi- 
pal workers in getting that organization 
estabUshed. Besides these he is a member 
of the military company, and was one of the 
charter members of the dramatic association, 
which was organized in 1873. Mr. Joubert 
is a staunch republican in political faith, and 
is recognized as one of the ablest editorial 
writers on political questions in this part of 
the State. 

-• • ^ •^^^•• < t- • 

"OHN AUGUSTUS SAMPSON, who re- 
sides on section -t, Greenleaf township, 
"is one of the leading farmers and stock rais- 
ers, and also* one of the most prominent cit 
izens in the southern part of Meeker county. 
He comes of a nationality, wliich, through 
their industry and frugality, makes the most 
substantial and valuable citizens of Minne- 
sota. He was born in Sweden, on the 9th of 
August, 1849, and came to the United States 
in 1858 with his parents, John and Anna 
Hellena Sampson. After having resided one 
year and a half in Jamestown, N. Y., he, 
with his mother and youngest sister, joined 
his father and oldest sister, who had gone six 
months before, in Minnesota, in tlie fall of 
1859, and took up their residence with the 
husband and father, on section 4, in the town 
of Greenleaf, Meeker county, where they 



still reside. A full sketch of the parents will 
be found elsewhere in this volume. 

John A., the subject of this biographical 
memoir, was reared on a farm, imbibing and 
acquiring from the necessities, the principles 
and habits of industry and economy which 
were so essentially a concomitant of pioneer 
life. As no district schools were yet in the 
neighborhood, he managed to attend a few 
months school a few miles from home, work- 
ing at the same time in a private family for 
his board. Being fond of reading and gen- 
eral information, he enlarged his stock of 
knowledge in both the Swedish and English 
languages, and tried in all respects to be a 
sel-fmade man. An op]iortunity offered it- 
self to acquire a more substantial knowledge 
in the winter of 1864 and 1805, when he re- 
solved to attend for a few months, the Ans- 
cary Academy, at East Union, Carver 
county, then superintended by his brother- 
in-law, Rev. Andrew Jackson. 

On the 30th of August, 1874, he was joined 
in marriage to Anna Elizabeth Romwall. 
His wife was born in Sweden July 29, 1852, 
and came to America in 1864 with her par- 
ents, who are still living in Carver county, 
Minn. Their marriage has been blessed 
with five children, as follows: P>eda (de- 
ceased), born July 2, 1875 ; Freda L. V., born 
June 11, 1877; Esther A., born June 3, 
1879; Joshua Theodore, born July 14, 1881 ; 
Hannah JST., born November 23, 1883; and 
Walter C. E., born June 30, 1887. The 
family are active and jirominent members 
in the Beckville Lutheran church. 

Mr. Sampson has taken an active interest 
in public matters, and is I'ated as one of the 
most substantial and prominent citizens of 
his township. In political matters he affili- 
ates with the republican party, and has held 
many offices of local importance, including 
those of township supervisor, assessor, treas- 
urer, etc. In financial matters, although, 
like others in his township, he has suffered 



i6S 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



some reverses, he has withal been very suc- 
cessful. He has a large and valuable farm, 
a great proportion of which is under cultiva- 
tion, and has it well stocked. Ilis building 
improvements are among the finest in the 
township, making a home in which he may 
justly take a pride, and which is, in the enter- 
prise it manifests, a credit to the county. 

In another department of this work will 
be found a jiortrait of Mr. Sampson. 



•■^-J^S^^-^— •- 




EORGE W. HARDING, one of the 
leading citizens of Darwin township, 
and the present town clerk, is living on his 
fertile and highly-cultivated farm on sec- 
tion 21. lie was born in Hardenburgh, Ind., 
Octol)er 3, 1852, and is the son of Mitchell 
and Mary A. Harding. He was reared and 
educated in the '-Iloosier State" and remained 
a resident there until April 25, 1866, 
when became to Meeker county, Minn., with 
his father, and settled in Darwin township, 
where he now makes his home. 

Mitchell Harding, the father of our sub- 
ject, was born in Genesee county, N. 
Y., March 14, 1808, and came West and 
settled in Indiana in 1836, one of the pio- 
neers of that noble State. His father was a 
veteran of the conflict with Great Britain 
in 1812-1815, and died at Fort Erie during 
the war. Mitchell Harding makes his home 
with his son, George, having given up act- 
ive business pursuits, as he is over eighty 
years old. 

George Harding was united in marriage, 
April 5, 1874, with Miss Josie L. Smith, and 
by this union they are the parents of tiiree 
children — Earl C, born March 1, 1875, died 
October 8, 1880; Jennie M., born May 11, 
1878 ; and George W., born July 26, 1881. 

Our subject is politically a republican, 
and has been called on several times by his 
fellow citizens to discharge official duties. 
He was elected chairman of the town board 



of supervisors, and served in that capacity 
three terms. Town assessor and town clerk 
he has also been, and at present holds the two 
offices — clerk of the township and school 
district treasurer. Keligiously, he is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, 
while his estimable wife holds communion 
with the Chui'ch of God, and both are sin- 
cere, earnest. Christian people. 

^^VENNING JOHNSON is a respected 
~^^ and successful farmer, who resides on 
section 21, Danielsoii township. Like a 
majority of the most thrifty and enterpris- 
ing farmers of his township, Mr. Johnson is 
a native of Sweden, where he was born 
November 3, 1831. His early life was spent 
in his native land, but in 1869 he came to 
the United States, and first settled in Illinois, 
where he remained for two years, working 
for different farmers. At the end of that 
time, on April 24, 1871, he came to Meeker 
county, Minn., and ]nirchased forty acres 
of land on section 21, in Danielson town- 
ship, where he has since lived. He has 
since bought 140 acres more, so that he now 
owns 180 acres, 100 of which are on section 
21, and eighty on 29. 

Mr. Johnson was married ]^fay 2, 1862, 
while still in Sweden, to Johanna Larson, and 
their union has been blessed with the follow- 
ing named children : Amanda, born Api'il 
18, 1863 ; Augusta, born September 9, 
1864 ; Lewis, born August 28, 1867 ; August, 
born September 26, 1869 ; Hattie, born Sep- 
tember 1, 1872, and Emel, born July 28, 
1874. Amanda and Augusta are working in 
St. Paul. The son, Lewis, has general charge 
of the farm, as his father is now well along 
in years, and is spending the evening of his 
long and useful life, partially retired from 
the active participation in farm labor. The 
famil}' are members of the Methodist church. 

When Mr. Johnson came to the United 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



169 



States he was a poor man, and it was only 
by the hardest labor and strictest economy 
that he secured a start and was able to sup- 
port his family. lie pei-severed, however, 
and is now in very good circumstances, hav- 
ing a cojnfortable home in which to spend 
the latter part of his life, and is possessed of 
a comfortable property. 



-^^ 



"OHN YOUNGSTROM, a farmer, resid- 
ing on section 2S, Litchfield township, 
is one of the most intelligent and best-posted 
citizens in his portion of the county. He is 
a native of Sweden, born on the 1st of 
Februar}^, 184-5, and is a son of Andrew and 
Christine Youngstrom. John grew to man- 
hood at the home of his parents, and at an 
ea,rly age embarked in the mercantile busi- 
ness, continuing it until 1868, when he came 
to the United States. Shortly after his 
arrival he decided to locate in Meeker coun- 
ty, Minn., and accordingly purchased parts 
of sections 21, 28 and 29, in Litchfield 
township. His farm at that time was one of 
the largest operated by one man west of the 
" Big Woods," but after about ten years' trial, 
he became convinced that it was not quan- 
tity of land which was essential to success 
in farming, but sagacity and business tact in 
management. Accordingly, he unloaded a 
good portion of his huge farm, and has since 
been operating on the safe side. Although 
the grassho]ipers, hailstorms and drouth have 
caused him serious backsets, entailing the 
loss of three crops in four years, he has man- 
aged to come out of it all in pretty good 
financial shape. 

Mr. Youngstrom was married in 1871 to 
Mary C. Kjellander, a daughter of John 
Kjellander, and a native of Sweden, born in 
1844. Four children have been born to them, 
viz.: John Oscar, Hilder Mary, Olga and 
Axel H. Although Mr. Youngstrom has 
never been caught m the maelstrom of polit- 



ical office seeking, he has ever been a close 
student of political economy, and has lent a 
considerable amount of ■ time and all his 
influence to the remedying of existing evils 
in governmental aff'airs, and is an unyielding 
foe to monopoly and all manner of oppres- 
sion and harmful influences. 

«"S^^-4^ • 

l^RANK E. DAGGETT, deceased, was 
Jp^ at one time one of the most prominent 
citizens of Meeker count}^ and during his 
residence at Litchfield, figured conspicuously 
in its history. He was a native of Vermont, 
but when quite young he came "West to Fond 
du Lac, Wis., and in 1853, went to Hudson, 
in the same State. He learned the trade of 
a printer when still a boy, at Hudson, Wis., 
and Stillwater, Minn. At an early day he 
went to Kansas and Nebraska, and as a 
journalist, took an active part in the anti- 
slavery movements, being one of John 
Brown's most active associates, and expected 
fully to accompany Brown on the Harper's 
Ferry expedition ; but he went home to visit 
his mother, and as the move took place ear- 
lier than was planned, he did not get back in 
time to participate in it. After that, he 
went to St. Paul and began working at his 
trade on the old Pioneer. From there he 
returned to Rutland county, Vt., and in 
18(>0 was married. Before he started West 
again, war was declared, and he enlisted for 
three months in the First Vermont Regiment. 
At the expiration of his term of service, he 
came to Minnesota and enlisted in the Sixth 
Minnesota Infantry, and was ordered to the 
frontier to participate in the Indian warfare. 
After the close of the Indian troubles, he 
went before the examining board at St. Louis, 
and having passed the examination, was ap- 
pointed lieutenant in the 117th LTnited States 
Regiment [colored], and was assigned to the 
Army of the Potomac. In the summer of 
1861 he was taken sick and ordered to resie:n. 



170 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



He then returned to Minnesota and worked 
on the Pioneer until 1S*!6 when he went to 
Wabasha and purchased the ^Vahaslla Herald. 
This he published until the fall of 1870, 
when he went to LaCrosse and bought an in- 
terest in the Leader, of that place, the firm 
becoming Taylor, Burns & Daggett. Through 
some mismanagement the firm became in- 
solvent, and Mr. Daggett began work on the 
Milwaukee Daily News as a compositor. .In 
the fall of 1871 he was given a position as 
city editor on the Minneapolis News, and re- 
mained there till April, 1872, when he re- 
signed and came to Litchfield, and in com- 
pany with W. D. Joubert, established the 
Litchfield Ledger. While'in business here he 
was three times elected clerk of the Minne- 
sota House of Representatives. He was a 
prominent and active member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, and at one time was 
Grand Commander of the Department of 
Minnesota. The post at Litchfield was named 
" Frank Daggett Post," in honor of him. 
Mr. Daggett's death occurred Saturday, 
October li, 1876. He was then in his thirty- 
ninth year. 

• •« > '^^' ■ < '■ • 

CHARLES A. STAPLES, a successful 
merchant of the village of Manannah, 
is a native of Waldo county, Me., born Feb- 
ruary 17, 1843, and is the seventh son of 
Jacob C, and Elizabeth (Small) Staples, 
both of whom were also natives of the Pine 
Tree State. The father of our subject was 
born March 0, 1801, and his mother March 
24, 1805. Their marriage took place March 
20, 1828, and they continued to make their 
home in their native State until October, 
1854, when they came to Minnesota with 
their family of ten children, of whom our 
subject was one. The\^ settled in Sauk 
Valley, six miles west of where St. Cloud is 
now located, but at that time there was not 
a house where the city now is located. They 



remained in that vicinity until the time of 
their death, the mother October 17, 1874, 
the father, November 26, 1879. The latter's 
demise was caused by exposure, cold and 
exhaustion. He was then a man of seventy- 
eight years and having been to St. Cloud, 
upon a visit to a son who still resides there, 
and on returning missed his road and landed 
in the night on Maine Prairie, and being 
refused shelter by professed Christian people 
along the way, was out all night that cold 
November night, and died a few days later. 
Charles A. remained at home with his 
parents until attaining his majority, during 
which time he learned the carpenter's trade 
of his father, also a good knowledge of farm- 
ing which afterwai'd he made a success. He 
came to Meeker county, and took up a home- 
stead on section 5, Union Grove to\vnship, 
selecting his land in July, 1864. After 
filing papers for a homestead in August, he 
enlisted, September 3, 1864, in the Fourth 
Minnesota Infantry as a recruit, with which 
he served only about three months, and then 
being discharged for disabilitv, he returned 
to his claim and commenced improving it, 
and made it his home until 1882, during 
which time he had added by purchase some 
360 acres to his original homestead. He then 
sold his original homestead and went to 
Litchfield and entered into a partnership in 
company with his brothers, J. II. and N. P., 
under the firm name and style of Staples 
Brothers, who were then in the business of 
general merchandising. In the spring of 
1883 he sold out and made a trip to Dakota, 
with the intention of dealing in hardware, 
lumber and farm machinery in Spink county, 
but returned and located at Manannah, and 
in November of that year put in a new stock 
of general merchandise and commenced his 
present business in company with his brother, 
J. H. Staples, and continued the business as 
Staples Brothers up to April 13, 1888, when he 
purchased his brother's interest and assumed 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



171 



sole proprietorship. He left l^ome empty- 
handed but by diligence and business tact 
natural to him, before he left Union Grove 
township, he had accumlated a fine farm of 
240 acres of land and $3,000 in cash. lie 
was chairman of the board of town super- 
visors in that precinct, justice of the peace 
and town clerk for a number of years, and 
held some office of trust or responsibility in 
that town nearly all the time of his residence 
there. He was, also, active in all educational 
work and is now one of the trustees in the 
village of Manannah. 

Mr. Staples was united in marriage in the 
year 1870, with Miss Sarah A. Hinds, a native 
of Columbia county. Wis., and a daughter of 
Isaac and Mary (Thomas) Hinds, who settled 
in Union Grove in 1864. By this union Mr. 
and Mrs. Staples became the parents of 
three children — Carrie Angelia, born Jan- 
uary 4, 1871 ; Ancil Edmonds, born August 
21,1872; and Frances Ann, born January 
1, 1882. 



^ON. ANDREW NELSON, one of the 
prominent and leading citizens of 
Meeker county, resides in the village of 
Litchfield. His sterling integrity in all his 
dealings with his fellow men, the honor and 
ability displayed in official positions and the 
spotless purity of his private life, have won 
for him the respect of the entire conmiu- 
nity. He is a native of Sweden, born 
December 29, 1829, in the Forsamling of 
Troninge Paapsbyl), No. 3, Hallandslane, 
which is about three-quarters of a Swedish 
mile (about five miles English) from Halm- 
stadt. 

The father of our subject, Nels Anderson, 
was born in 1773, and was a native of the 
same country and one of the wealthiest 
faimers of that locality. He had erected 
some very fine farm buildings, but lost them 
by fire, and this, and other misfortunes which 



overtook him, reduced him in circumstances. 
He had been assaulted and nearly killed by 
a man who bore him enmity, and left for 
dead, with his brains almost oozing from his 
fractured skull, but being of a very strong con- 
stitution he recovered his physical strength, 
although his mental balance was considera- 
bly affected. He came to the United States 
in 1862, with his wife, Johanna (Anderson) 
Anderson, and came at once to St. Paul. 
He died there about 1867, after lying in bed 
for three j^ears, having been crippled by be- 
ing run over, and never recovered. His 
widow is now making her home with her 
son, Andrew Nelson, in Litchfield, and not- 
withstanding her eighty-eight years, she 
having been born in October, 1800, is in the 
enjoyment of nearly aU her faculties, and in 
excellent health. 

Andrew Nelson, on account of his father's 
misfortunes, received but a limited education, 
the present excellent school system of Swe- 
den not having then been adopted; there 
were no public schools. He, on attaining 
maturer years, worked out at farm work 
until the spring of 1856, when, taking passage 
on a sailing vessel from the port of Gotten- 
borg, emigrated to the new world, and, after 
a stormy voyage across the Atlantic ocean, 
arrived in New York harbor on the 3d of 
July, and was compelled to stay on ship- 
board all of the 4th. At night when the 
surrounding scenery was lit up by the brill- 
iant lights of the fireworks, he and his fel- 
low travelers thought the inhabitants of 
America must be crazy, for they had no idea 
of our celebrating that day. On landing, 
Mr. Nelson started for the West and located 
at Galesburg, 111., where he remained two 
years, working at farm labor, and teaming, 
hauling wood for the railroad, etc. In July, 
1858, he came to Minnesota and settled in 
Monongalia count}', now a part of Kandiyohi 
county, where he took up 160 acres of land 
near Foot Lake. He commenced the im- 



172 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



provement of the jiroperty and there made 
his home until the Indian outbreak in 
August, 1862. 

There was living in the house with him, 
for he was at that time a single man, his 
brother-in-law, Swan Swanson, with the Lit- 
ter's wife and three children, Annie, Theo- 
dore and Emma. On the 21st of August 
they received the news of the massacre at 
Acton and the general uprising of the sav- 
ages, and at once made preparations for 
flight. Mr. Nelson assisted Swanson to take 
off the hayrack from the running gear of the 
wagon and substitute the box, into which 
they loaded some of their household goods 
and the little family, and started for a place 
of safety, Mr. Nelson remaining to collect 
some forty head of cattle which they had. 
Night overtook him, and, starting in the dark- 
ness, he soon heard whispered voices near him 
and incautiously shouted, "Who's there?" 
and in an instant the rapid footsteps of his 
savage foes gave him the alarm as they 
rushed toward him. Favored by the night, 
he eluded them and made his way toward 
Foot's house. He saw the Indians enter the 
house, and he crept into the cornfield ; but 
hearing them in liis immediate neighbor- 
hood, the rustling of the leaves and the 
breaking of the stalks betra3'ing their move- 
ments, he slipped out and sought security else- 
where. Arriving on the banks of Mud Lake, 
he jumped off of a high bank for the water 
below, but fell into a scrub oak, but a min- 
ute or two after dropped into the lake in 
mud and water to his armpits. After a 
short time spent there he scrambled out, and 
as the water in his boots made such a noise 
when he walked he pulled them off, and in 
doing so lost one and then threw the other 
away. He wandered all about the prairie 
all night in his bare feet, and at one time, 
having cast himself down beside a log by the 
side of the road, saw, dimly portrayed against 
the sky, the figures of several of his pursuers 



pass within a. few feet of him. As the morn- 
ing dawned he heard the sound of musketry, 
and looked about him to find out his bearings, 
for he was still bewildered with his wander, 
ings and did not know where he was, and, 
casting himself into the grass, made out that 
he was in the vicinity of Oscar Erickson's 
house, about two miles from his own ])lace. 
This cabin was near the outlet of Eagle Lake, 
and contained four families, those of Foot, 
Carlson, Swanson and Erickson, who were 
making a brave defense and drove off the 
invaders. Young Carlson was killed, and 
Mr. Foot and Mr. Erickson severely wound- 
ed, but all escaped with their lives, except 
the former. Mr. Nelson, after waiting a 
short time within about sixty rods of the 
house, finally struck across the prairie for 
Diamond Lake. His lacerated feet, the flesh 
cut from them and bleeding at every step, 
hardly allowed him to make much speed, 
but on arriving at the house of Mr. Gates he 
found a number of the settlers ready to start, 
but calmly preparing their breakfast. Mr. 
Nelson's tidings of the nearness of the ruthless 
savages altered all this, and, abandoning the 
half-prepared meal, they quickly betook 
themselves to flight, he riding with them, 
for by this time the pain in his feet had be- 
come insupportable. Behind them, a few 
miles, they could see a train of fleeing set- 
tlers, who were attacked about two miles 
west of Swede Grove, but who beat off the 
savages by drawing up their wagons in a 
circle around a hole in the earth, corral- 
ine: their animals and fighting it out with 
the Indians, losing two of their number, 
Lorenson and Bucklin. The band with 
whom the subject of this sketch was arrived 
at Forest City, and pi-epared to go on east 
beyond the Big Woods for safety. Mr. 
Nelson went with them as far as Kings- 
ton, where, through the kindness of Mr. 
Davidson, the miller, ami his wife, he had 
his feet washed and the wounds dressed 





^?a4 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



175 



with tallow and linen rags bv that gentle- 
man, who loaned him a pair of Indian moc- 
assins to wear. Borrowing a hoise of Swan 
Munson, Mr. Nelson determined to return 
and seek his brother-in-law's famil\% but on 
the way thither met Lieut. J. B. Atkinson, 
of the Meeker county militia, who was or- 
dered with his squad to take all the horses 
they could find to mount the command. Mr. 
Nelson was ordered to dismount, but lie 
would not, and informed the officer that he 
could not have the horse as long as he (Mr. 
Nelson) was alive, whereupon the good-nat- 
ured officer told him to come along with 
him, and Mr. Nelson joined the troop, en- 
listing as a private therein. Tliis was in 
Captain Whitcomb's company. From this 
time out Mr. Nelson participated in every 
movement of the troop, being with every 
detail. The first time he was out with them 
they got as far as Peter Lund's farm, and 
foun<l the Indians preparing a meal in a big 
iron kettle, which they had strung gypsy- 
fashion over a fire, they having killed one of 
the settler's hogs. Quitea skirmish occurred, 
and the Indians retreated to the woods to 
draw the squad into an ambush, but, their 
design being penetrated, our forces fell back 
to Forest City. At another time, as is de- 
tailed elsewhere, they were driven back by 
some three or four hundred savages, re-in- 
forcements to their foes being perceived all 
around the horizon, and threatening the 
total annihilation of the little band if they 
were surrounded. The next day they built 
the stockade at Forest City, and Mr. Nelson 
helped defend that place during the attack 
made on it on the morning of the 3d of Sep- 
tember. A few days afterward the com- 
mand moved to Hutchinson to escort their 
wounded, and as their horses were stolen 
the men had to walk. Ole Ingeman loaned Mr. 
Nelson a horse to ride, but tiie officer would 
not allow tliat, and our subject was com- 
pelled to hobble along as he best could, for 



his feet were still in a horrible condition. 
He also toolv part in the expedition to Dia- 
mond and Eagle Lakes, where he acted as 
guide, and helped bury the dead bodies they 
found. 

After the company was disbandeil, Mr. 
Nelson went to St. Paul, and worked for the 
Government at Fort Snelling, building 
stables, etc., after which he was employed 
at various labor in that city, sawing wood 
and other work, the winter of 1862 and 1863. 
In the spring of 1863 he leased forty acres of 
land in AVashington county, of John Forber, 
and put in a crop, and the next year pur- 
chased eighty acres of lantl in the same 
county. To this he added, little bv little, 
until he owned some 200 acres, all of which 
he had under cultivation. In 1867 he sold 
out his property and purchased between 300 
and 400 acres of land in Darwin township, 
this county, on section 19, near Nelson Lake, 
and moved on it in 1868, commencing to 
open up a farm. There he made his home 
until about 1871, when he sold it to his 
father-in-law, Ole Johanson ; and purcliasing 
a lot in Litchfield, put up a building, and in 
company with his brother, B. P. Nelson, 
opened a stock of general merchand ise. Some 
years later he sold this business to Alexander 
Cairncross, since which time he has been 
variously employed, principally in looking 
after his large landed property, and farming 
a little. 

Mr. Nelson was one of the original stock- 
holders of the Meeker County Bank, and 
was its first president, and has always taken 
an active interest in the business life of the 
village. He was elected to the Sixteenth Leg- 
islature of this State, and served in the lower 
house during the session of- 1874. In 1875 
and 1876, he represented this district in the 
State senate. As chairman of the board of 
county commissioners of Meeker county, Mr. 
Nelson served this people during the years 
1884, 1885 and 1886, with credit to himself 



176 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



and honor to the judgment of the constituency 
that sent him tliere. He was village trustee 
of Litclilield in 1873, and is now a member 
of the city council, having been elected to 
serve through 1888 and 1889. 

Mr. Nelson and Miss Ellen Johanson were 
united in marriage March 28, 1868. She is a 
daughter of Ole and Hannah Johanson, nat- 
ives of Sweden, and was born in the latter 
country. She came to America with her 
parents in 1857, who, after a short stay in 
St. Paul, settled that year in what is now 
Litchfield township. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson 
were the parents of but one child, who died 
when but nine days old. 



OHN SAMPSON, a respected farmer 
and pioneer of Meeker county, whose 
home is on section 4, Greenleaf township, 
is a native of Sweden, born on the 2Stli of 
March, 1815, and a son of Peter and Cather- 
ine Samuelson. His early life was spent on 
the farm of his parents, employed at farm- 
ing and carpenter work. In 1858 he came 
to tiie United States, having previous to this 
been married, and after living for one year 
in Jamestown, N. Y., he, with the oldest 
daughter, took up their westward march 
in April, 1859, and came to Meeker countv, 
Minn. The trip from the Eastern States was 
made by way of railroad and steamboat as 
far as Carver, Minn., the rest of the fam- 
ily remaining in Jamestown until in the 
fall. He, together with Charles Allen and 
Swan Palm, made the journey from Carver 
on foot. The tri]) was one of severe hard- 
ship, as they found it almost impossible to 
get provisions. Mr. Sampson returned to 
Carver with an ox team for his baggage, and 
the roads were so bad that many limes he 
was obliged to unload the wagon and carry 
its contents through the mire in his arms. 
Shortly after arriving in Meeker county he 
selected land in section 4, in Greenleaf, and 



the following year (1860) erected a house, and 
has since continued to reside there, although 
extensive building and other improvements 
have been made, so that the farm of to-daj' 
makes a wonderful contrast with the rude 
cabin home of twenty -eight years ago. 

Mr. Sampson's marriage took place on the 
20th of June, 1842, when Anna Ilellena, a 
daughter of Jonas Jonson, became his wife. 
She was born in Sweden November 18, 1822. 
Their marriage was blessed with three chil- 
dren, as follows — Christina, born October 
20, 1845, died October 25, 1875; John 
Augustus, who is mentioned at length else- 
where in this volume, and Johanna Louisa, 
born January 19, 1852, died April 4, 1886. 

At the time of the Indian outbreak the 
family were living on the farm and the father 
was doing carpenter work for the neighbor- 
hood. The news of the massacre at Acton, 
only a few miles distant, reached the family 
on the 17th of August, 1862, and after 
sto]iping a short time at the houses of 
neiglibors they went to Forest City. After 
remaining there and at Kingston a short 
time, they spent several weeks at Clearwater 
and St. Paul and then went to Cottage 
Grove, Washington county, Minn., where 
they rented a farm and remained until the 
fall of 1864. They then returned to the 
homestead. 

Mr. Sampson is now spending the even- 
ing of his life, partially retired from the 
cares of active business, and holds the respect 
and esteem of all who know him. Both he 
and his wife are members of the Beckville 
Swedish Lutheran church, and are exem- 
plary Christian people. 



liMVANlEL DANIELSON, a successful 
tkj fanner and stock raiser, residing on 
section 6, Danielson township, and one of 
the most prominent citizens in that portion 
of the county, is a native of Norway, and 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



177 



was born on December 14, 1840, his parents 
being Daniel and Ingber Aslagson. His 
«arly life was one of industry and economy, 
and he was thrown on his own resources 
when still a mere lad, having earned his 
own living ever since he was twelve years of 
age. Wlien he was twenty years of age he 
left his native land, booking as a sailor on a 
native vessel for about nine months, then 
left it in England, and made one trip to the 
West Indies. In 1862 he left London on a 
vessel bound for China, and was shipwrecked 
about sixty miles off the coast of China. 
After this he remained in China about six 
"months, acting as quartermaster on a steamer. 
He then went to Australia, w^here he re- 
mained for about five years, part of the time 
in New Zealand, digging gold ; also working 
in Sidney, New South Wales, and a part of 
the time he sailed among the Friendly Isles. 
He left there in 1868, and after spending 
about three months at his native iiome in 
Norway, he sailed for the United States. 
Upon his arrival in this country, about July 
1, he came direct to Meeker county, Minn., 
and bought eighty acres of railroad land, 
■on section 5, in Danielson township. 
About nine months later he took a home- 
stead on section 30, where he lived for seven 
years, when he sold that and purchased his 
present place on section 6. He has also 
sold his railroad land, so that he now owns 
160 aci'es, a good deal of which is under a 
high state of cultivation. He has suffered 
some reverses through the loss of crops, par- 
ticularly in 1876 and 1877 from grasshoppers, 
and in 1885 from hail. 

In political matters, Mr. Danielson is a 
prohibitionist, and he has taken an active 
interest in pul^lic matters, having held var- 
ious offices, including tiiose of township clerk 
one year and assessor five years. 

Mr. Danielson was married, April 20, 1868, 
in Norway, to Inger Peterson, who was born 
August 7, 1849. Their marriage has been 



blessed with the following named children : 
Peter Chri, born April 2.3, 1869; Ine Dor- 
thy, born April 16,1871; Daniel Edward, 
born July 26, 1873 ; Hannah Julia, born 
August 12, 1875 ; Victor Emanuel, born De- 
cember 9, 1877 ; Martin Julius, born Decem- 
ber 16, 1878 ; and Inger Malinda, born March 
27, 1885. 

— — «'-^{^- < '- • ■ 

ll^EONARD ROMAN. The subject of 
W&^ this biographical notice, a resident of 
section 17, is one of the most prominent and 
successful farmers and stock raisers in Green- 
leaf township. He was born in Varmland, 
Sweden, on the 22d of April, 1845. His 
parents were born, and lived in the land of 
his birth until the time of their deaths. 
Leonard was reared on a farm and remained 
in his fatherland until 1869, when he sailed 
for the United States, and came direct to 
Meeker county, Minn., settling in Greenleaf 
township, where he has since lived. He now 
has 270 acres of lanil, a good share of whicli 
is under a high state of cultivation. Pie has 
been very successful in his farming opera- 
tions, although he has met with the partial 
loss of several crops ; but by careful manage- 
ment and hard labor he has accumulated a 
comfortable pro]ierty. He has taken an act- 
ive interest in public matters, and has held 
various offices of a local nature, including 
that of township assessor. In political affairs 
he affiliates with the prohibition party. 

Mr. Roman was married on the 6th of 
July, 1876, to Emma E. Ilagerstrom, and 
their marriage has been blessed with the 
following children —Axel L., born "June 5, 
1877; Benhart E., born March 9, 1879; 
Victor E., born June 19, 1880; Emma E., 
born June 4, 1883 ; and Arnold A., born 
January 18, 1885 — all of whom are still liv- 
ing except Benhart E., who died August 28, 
1879, and whose remains are interred in tiie 
Beckville cemetery. The family attend the 



178 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Mission church. Mrs. Roman's parents were 
also natives of Sweden. They came to 
Meeker county, Minn., in August, 1871, and 
are now living in Greenleaf township. 



«"S^^-^- 



CHARLES A. LAUGHTON, one of the 
prominent business men of Litchfield, 
was born in Platteville, Grant county, Wis., 
March 20, 1851, and is the son of George R. 
and Mildred (Durley) Laughton. His father 
was born in Soho Square, London, Eng., 
June 27, 1820, and came to the United 
States in 1835, arriving in New York Octo- 
ber 25. He came to Southport, now Keno- 
sha, Wis., with L. G. Merrill and John 
Nichols, who lirought some $56,000 worth of 
goods to that place October 30, 1842. In 
December following, these parties sent him 
to Platteville, with a large stock of goods. 
He became a large land owner in that 
county and lived on a farm in the environs 
of Platteville until 1870, when he removed 
to that village, where he lives retired from 
business. He was married. May 1, 18-t4, to 
Miss Mildred Durley, who was born August 
9, 1828, at Greenville, Bond county. 111., who 
died January' 8, 186-1. 

The elder Mr. Laughton owned and oper- 
ated a splendidly equipped woolen factory 
upon his farm, and Charles A., who attended 
school in the summer months, during the 
winters worked in the mill, and there showed 
his mechanical ingenuity. In 1870 when 
the place was sold, Charles entered the Young 
Men's Academy, at Lake Forest, 111., where 
he spent two years. He then entered into 
the mercantile trade at Platteville, with his 
brother, but finding the work too confining 
for his health, entered the employ of J. I. 
Case tt Co., of Racine. The following spring of 
187+, he commenced traveling in their inter- 
ests, as an expert, over the United States and 
Canada, and has seen much of the world while 
doingso. He followed that line of work,in the 



service of the same company, until Septem- 
ber, 1881, when he came to Litchfield, as the 
resident agent for Case & Co.'s threshing 
machinery. In the spring of 1887, he built 
the machine shop where he does all kinds of 
repairing of machinery, especially engine 
work, which he carries on in connection with 
his other business. 

November 10, 1887, C. A. Laughton was- 
united in marriage with Miss Julia Gratiot, 
a native of Platteville, Wis., daughter of the 
late Lieut. Col. E. H. and Ellen (Hager) Gra- 
tiot, natives of St. Louis, Mo., and Paltimore, 
Md., and niece of the late Hon. E. B. Wash- 
burn. While Mr. and Mrs. Laughton are not 
among the' older residents of the village, 
their genial dispositions and happy manners- 
have won tiiem a high place in social circles. 
Mr. Laughton is ranked among the leading- 
business men of the place, and a bright future 
is evidently before him. 



--.^ 



TaCOB LENHARD, of Darwin town- 
ship, is a native of the German Empire, 
born July 1, 1827. He was reared in that 
classic land and remained there until 1852, 
when bidding adieu to the beloved fatherland 
he crossed the ocean to the shores of free 
America, in search of the liberty of action 
and the chance of competency not afforded 
to him in the land of his birth. He settled 
near Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained some 
three months, after which he went to Canada, 
and worked on the construction of the railroad 
suspension bridge oyer the Niagara river. 
From there he proceeded west to Chicago, 111., 
but less than a year later removed to Polk 
county, Wis., and there purchased a farm and 
settled down to the life of a Western farmer. 
He made that part of the " Badger State" 
his home for thirteen years and at the ex- 
piration of that time, in 1868, came to 
Meeker county, and settled in Darwin town- 
ship. He was united in marriage, Septem- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



179 



ber 4, 1854, with Miss Dora Yerkes, who 
is the mother of seven children — Henry P., 
born June 22, 1855 ; John P., born January 
•9, 1857 ; William F., born December 9, 1858 ; 
Jacob A., born January 21, 1860 ; Mary M., 
born December 25, 1862; Conrad E., born 
March 24, 1865; and Anna D., born January 
18, 1869. The sons are all well-to-do farmers 
of the township. 

Mr. Lenhard and his family are members 
of the Lutheran church and respected and 
honored citizens. 



^TeLS F. JOHNSON, is one of the well- 
&''fj| to-do farmers of Swede Grove town- 
ship. He is a son of John and Anna Chris- 
tianson,and was born in Sweden, on the 28th 
of June, 1862. He came to the United States 
with his parents in 1868, and they came 
direct to Meeker county, Minn., settling in 
Swede Grove township, where Nels F. re 
■ceived a common-school education. He lived 
with his parents, working on the farm until 
1887, when he purchased 160 acres of land 
on section 6, whei'e he now lives, keeping 
"bachelor's hall" and tilling his farm. A 
sketch of his parents will be found elsewhere 
in this volume. Mr. Johnson takes active 
interest in township matters. He was ap- 
pointed school clerk to fill the unexpired 
term when tiiat oihce became vacant throucrh 

O 

the removal of his father to another town- 
ship. He is a member of the Swedish Luth- 
eran church. In political matters he is a 
I'epublican. 



'«« 



^^►^ 



^HE legal profession has a number of 
able and prominent representatives at 
Litchfield, among them being J. M. Eussell, 
county attorney of Meeker county. He is a 
native of Clay county, Ind., born on the 13th 
of Februar\', 1852. His early life was spent 
upon a farm attending district school in the 



winter, and thus continuing until he was six- 
teen years old, when he began teaching 
school in the winter, working on the farm 
during the summer. Two years later he 
purchased his brother's interest in the old 
homestead, his father having died when he 
was less than three years of age. After this 
he worked the farm during the summer, 
teaching during the winter months, until he 
was twenty-three j'ears old, when he sold 
the stock and farm implements and for two 
years attended college at Westfield, 111. From 
there, in the spring of 1877, he came to 
Meeker county, remaining here one year 
and teaching two terms of school. In the 
spring of 1878, returning to the old home in 
Indiana, he worked on the farm with his 
brother that season and taught school during 
the following winter. 

On the 8th of April, 1879, Mr. Eussell was 
married to Miss Julia E. Hays, of Clay 
county Ind., and the following day they 
started for Meeker county, Minn. For a 
year he taught school at Cedar Mills, and, on 
the 14th of September, 1880, he settled at 
Litchfield and entered the law office of N. 
C. Martin for the purpose of fitting himself 
for that profession, and was admitted to 
the bar in the fall of 1882. He spent the 
summer of 1881 upon a claim in Dakota. He 
sold this in 188.3, and having taken a home- 
stead in the same Territory, that spring, he 
spent the summer on that, and still owns 
the farm. After being admitted to the bar 
in the fall of 1882 he formed a law partnership 
with IST. C. Martin under the firm name of 
Martin & Eussell. This partnership was 
maintained until the 1st of January, 1887, 
when it was dissolved, and since that time 
Mr. Eussell has devoted his attention exclu- 
sively to his profession, as before, but alone 
in business, and has built up a lucrative 
practice. In 1884 he was elected city 
attorne}"^ and held the office for three suc- 
cessive terms. In the fall of 1887 he 



I So 



MEEKER COUNTY, M IXXESOTA. 



was elected county attorney on the repub- 
lican and alliance tickets and assumed 
the duties of the office on the 1st of Jan- 
uary, 1SS7. Mr. Russell is an active meni- 
of the Christian Church. 



— -^f^^--^- 



^MN DREW DAVIDSON, is one of the pio- 
J^}i_ neers of Dassel township, where he 
lives on section !■!, and one of its leadincr 
and representative citizens. He is a native 
of Scotland, born in Wigtown Shair, Mai'ch 
28, 1833. Among the heaths and glens of 
his native land he was reared, and there made 
his home until his twenty -first year, and then 
determined to seek a new home in the wilds 
of America. Crossing the tempestuous At- 
lantic, he landed in New York, and for a 
short time made his home in Orleans countv, 
N. Y., but then moved to Morristown, N". J., 
where he went into a hardware store, where 
he was employed for some time, and later 
commenced market gardening or "truck 
farming." In 1856 our subject came west, 
and for ten years followed farming in Col- 
umbia county, Wis., from whence he came 
to Meeker county in 1866. He drove the 
entire distance with an ox team, brineinor 
his family with him, and on his arrival here 
took up as a homestead eighty acres of land 
on section 14. First setting foot in the 
county July 4, 1866, he has been for nearly 
twenty years a constant citizen, except the 
first winter, when he spent that season in 
McLeod county after partially building the 
house upon his place, where he worked to 
keep his family in the necessaries of life. 
During the fii'st few years he did consider- 
able hunting, getting at one time eighty -six 
deer in six weeks, and in taking the venison 
and furs to Minneapolis to market he add- 
ed considerably to his revenue. As game 
became sciirce. he took up teaming with a 
yoke of oxen, and transacted considerable 



business at remunerative figures. Soon his 
farm demanded his sole attention, and by the 
exercise of labor and perseverance, together 
with the thrift and frugality with which his 
race are proverbially endowed, has succeeded 
in placing himself in comfortable circum- 
stances^ and lives surrouinled by most of the 
co7uforts of life. 

Mr. Davidson wiis married before he left 
"the land of heather," December 1, 1849, to- 
Miss Grace McAllister, but left her in Scot- 
land when he came to America in search of 
a home. Two years afterward she emigrated 
to the "land of the free," joining her hus- 
band, in Morristown, in 1856. They are the- 
happy parents of four children — Janet, Peter, 
Margaret and Alexander. Janet is the wife 
of Barney Cox, a resident of Dassel ; Peter, 
who is also married, lives in the town of 
Dassel; the other two still reside at home. 

On the organization of the town in 1867,, 
Mr. D. was elected one of the first justices of 
the peace, and for the past thirteen years 
has been chairman of the town board of 
supervisors. 



BAVID B. HOAR. The subject of this, 
biography, a prominent and successful 
farmei' and stock raiser, residing on section 
34, Union Grove townshij), justly beai'S the- 
reputation of being one of the most solid and 
substantial citizens in the northern part of 
the county, and his many yeai-s of residence 
there have caused him to be well known to 
all the old settlers of that region. 

Mr. Hoar was born in New Brunswick, 
Albert county, Canada, on May 8, 1822.. 
His father was originally a tanner, but he 
lost his feet from the eifects of a cold, morti- 
fication setting in, and amputation was 
necessary, and he then learned and worked 
at the tailor's trade for some time, after 
which he was engaged in the mercantile 
business. A few years later he built a vesseL 



MEEKKR COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



i8i 



which he sailed for three years, and then 
sold out and engaged in farming. He died 
in 1878, and his wife in 1883. 

David B. Hoar, our subject, spent his early 
days in aiding to care for his parents. In 
May, 1857, he came to Minnesota, and ^Yorked 
in a steam saw mill in Wright county until 
tlie spring of 1858, when he came to Meeker 
county, and rented a farm in what is now 
Union Grove township, which he worked 
and raised three crops on. The last year he 
bought the right and improvements on 160 
acres of land on section 3-i, wiiere he win- 
tered. The next summer he worked for 
farmere in Wright county, and the same fall, 
on October 23, 1861, he was married to 
Miss Melissa Bryant, daughter of Ambrose 
and Narcissa Bryant. She was born in Ken- 
ne|3ec county. Me., July 24, 1842, and 
came to Minnesota with her parents in the 
fall of 1855. At the age of nineteen she 
commenced teaching school, and taught one 
term before and one after marriage. She 
was teaching when the outbreak of the In- 
dians occurred. As a full history of this 
matter is given in another department of 
this work, it is unnecessary in this connec- 
tion to repeat it. On the Wednesday fol- 
lowing the massacre at Acton, Mrs. Hoar 
was teaching, when a man came and notified 
her that the Indians were coming. She at 
once sent the children to their homes, and 
she rode home with the mail carrier. Mr. 
Hoar at once started to notify the Good- 
speeds, Mrs. Goodspeed being a sister of 
Mrs. Hoar. They hitched up a yoke of 
oxen and a horse, antl expected to take din- 
ner at Mr. Hoar's, but they did not stop to 
eat it, as the Indians had got sight of him 
and were in hot pursuit. Mr. Hoar cocked 
his gun and backed up to the wagon, wait- 
ing till all were in, and they started, and 
before they were out of sight the Indians 
were plundering the house. The party drove 
to Manannah, where they were joined by 



quite a crowd, and then proceeded to Forest 
City. Mrs. Hoar, Mrs. Learning and two 
children, Mrs. Helen Goodspeed and three 
children, and Miss Florinda J. Bryant, the 
four sisters, went to Monticello. Mr. Hoar 
remained during the summer and was on 
some of the most perilous expeditions, and 
had many narrow escapes. He spent the 
ensuing winter at his father-in-law's, after 
which he spent about three years in his na- 
tive province. In 1866 he returned to Union 
Grove, and this has since been his home. 
He has one of the most desirable farms in 
the township, owning 320 acres, and has 
substantial improvements. All that he pos- 
sesses is the result of his own management 
and industry, and he has accumulated a fine 
property, notwithstanding tlie fact that he 
has passed through enough hardships and 
dangers in early days, and loss of crops in 
later years, to have discouraged and dis- 
heartened the generality of mankind. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hoar are the parents of the 
following children — Adelbert, born Decem- 
ber 12, 1862 ; David Alonzo, born September 
1, 1864; Elisabeth S., born August 11, 1866; 
Wesley J., born September 5, 1868 ; Wino- 
gene, born July 11, 1870 ; Irvine, born Jan- 
uary 15,1872; Forest, born April 26, 1873; 
A. Chesley, born March 23, 1875 ; Phebe A., 
born January 13, 1877 ; Narcissa, born De- 
cember 30, 1878 ; and Ambrose, born Octo- 
ber 24, 1880. Adelbert is mentioned else- 
where in this work. David Alonzo runs a 
stationary engine at BuS'alo, Minn. The 
rest are at home. 

4" 



l[£>j) ASMUS NELSON, the junior member 
'JPfV *^f *^^ ^™^ o^ Birch & Nelson, Litch^ 
field, is a native of Denmark, born Febru- 
ary 11, 1844. His father was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, and our subject was 
reared upon a farm, acquiring such education 
as the schools of his native land afforded 



l82 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



until ho w;is some fourteen years of age, after 
wliich his tiiue was devoted solely to labor. 
In 1869 he emigrated to the New World and 
upon lauding in this country, came to Minne- 
sota and pui'fhased a farm on section 34, 
Acton township, and upon that tract of land 
made his home for some sixteen years. 
While a resident in that portion of the county 
he was very active in the discharge of his 
duties as a citizen, and was duly honored 
by the people with election to several im- 
portant offices. He served three years as town 
supervisor, four years as county commissioner, 
and in a number of the minor ones, and on 
the school board. 

In 1884 the subject of this sketch pur- 
chased the interest of Andrew Nelson in the 
clothing and gents' furnishing goods firm of 
Birch & Nelson, and has been actively en- 
gaged in mercantile pursuits in this line and 
place ever since. lie is still the owner of 
some 400 acres of excellent farm land in the 
county, most of which is under cultivation. 
His house, which is a handsome one, is sur- 
rounded by a fine grove, and his place con- 
tains a thrifty orchard, and is generally con- 
sidered one of the best farms in the county. 

Mr. Nelson was united in marriage in Den- 
mark, previous to his leaving his native land, 
with Miss Maren Peterson, a native of the 
same countr}'^, who died September 29, 1887. 
They were the parents of eight children — 
Nels P., Charles G., Annie, Carrie M., Gertie 
C, Walter W., Jennie and Arthur E. 



1^- 



-^- 



lEMJT^ANS IVERSON resides on section 33, 
JPSL Acton township. The parents of the 
subject of this biogi'aphy were Iver and 
Johanna Anderson, both of whom were 
born in Norway and lived in their native 
land until the time of their deaths. Hans 
Iverson was a native of the same country 
and was born on the 4th of May, 1846. He 
came to the United States in 1869, and 



shortly after his arrival he proceeded to 
Dakota county, Minn., where he was em- 
ployed by various farmers until during the 
year 1873, when lie came to Meeker county 
and bought railroad land on section 33, 
in Acton township, where he still lives. He 
has a good farm of 130 acres of land with 
a good portion of it under cultivation, a 
comfortable house, and other farm buildings, 
and withal is in comfortal)le circumstances. 
This has all been the result of his own in- 
dustry and economj', as he was a poor man 
when he came to this countr}'. He has met 
with some reverses, especially during the 
year that the grasshoppers visited Meeker 
county, but as a whole his farming operations 
have been very successful. 

Mr. Iverson was married in 1869 to Miss 
Ingeborg Pederson. She was born in Nor- 
way', on the 4th of April, 1848, and is a 
daughter of Iver and Martha Pederson. 
Her father died in Norway and her mother 
is now living in Pope county, Minn. Mr. 
and Mrs. Iverson have been the parents of 
the following children — Martin, born March 
14,1870; Man, born December 29, 1873; 
Olof, born July 7, 1875 ; Mina, born Sep- 
tember 10, 1877; Hilda, born January 16, 
1880; and Lydia, born July 23, 1882. 



►^. 



^^TlMROD BARRICK, a farmer of EUs- 
^y'fji worth townshi[), lives on section 33, 
where he carries on agricultural ]mrsuits, 
and confines his operations to grain and cat- 
tle raising. 

Mr. IJarrick was born in Cediu' county, 
Iowa, September 20, 1851, and is the son of 
Alpheus and Minerva (Porter) Parrick, nat- 
ives of \'irginia and Indiana respectively, 
who came to Meeker count}' in the spring of 
1864, and settled in the town of Cedar Mills, 
where they still live. Mr. and Mrs. Alpheus 
Barrick were the parents of eight children — 
Isaac, Amos, Sarah, Scott, Nimrod, Nellie, 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



185 



James and Ethan. Isaac, one of those 
" whose faith and truth on war's red touch- 
stone rang true metal," enlisted in Com- 
pany 11, Third Minnesota Infantry, and after 
nearly three years' service, died from expos- 
ure. Ethan died at the age of two years. 

The subject of our sketch spent a portion 
of his earl}' life in Rice county, Minn., where 
his father followed his trade, blacksmithing, 
until war times, then enlisted in Company A, 
Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serv- 
ing one year. During this time our subject 
attended district school, and in the fall of 
186-i he, with the rest of his people, removed 
to Meeker county, Minn., and settled in Ce- 
dar Mills township, where he remained at 
home, assisting in the work and improving 
the place, until the fall of 1873, when he 
commenced }ife for himself and removed to 
the town of Ellsworth. 

October 9, 1873, Mr. Barrick and Miss 
Julia Kennedy pledged their mutual vows 
at the marriage altar. The bride was a 
daughter of Dr. V. P., and Julia Ann 
(Rudisill) Kenned}', natives of Pennsylvania 
and Indiana respectively, and was herself 
born in Clay county, Ind. A history of her 
parents is given elsewhere in the pages of this 
Album, to which the reader is referred. By 
this union Mr. and Mrs. Barrick have become 
the parents of three children, Poscoe, Vincent 
and Baby, and their home is lightened by 
the merry sound of childhood's laugh and 
song. 

In the spring of 1885, Mr. and Mrs. Bar- 
rick moved to Brown county, D. T., but 
becoming dissatisfied there, returned to 
Meeker county in the fall of the same 
year. 

Our subject is republican in his principles, 
and affiliates with that organization. In 
local politics he takes considerable interest 
although, in no way a professional politician 
or an office seeker. In 1882 he was honored 



by the citizens of Ellsworth township, by 
having had bestowed upon him the office of 
town supervisor, and for four years filled 
that position. Several minor offices have, 
also, in him found a worthy and trusty 
administrator and he merits and receives the 
respect and esteem of the whole community. 



^i^"^^^^' 



l&saTFNRY MARTIN, a successful and en- 
JPjL ter])rising farmer residing on section 
9, Cedar Mills township, has been a resident 
of Meeker county, with the exception of one 
year, since 1873. He is a native of Monroe 
county. Wis., and was born October 8, 1855. 

When Henry was seven years of age he 
removed to Kedron, Fillmore county, Minn., 
with a man named Hale, who had adopted 
him. He remained there until 1873, when 
he came to Meeker county, Minn., and located 
in what is now the town of Cosmos. After 
remaining there a year he went to Stevens 
county, Minn., where he also remained a 
year, and then returned to Meeker county. 
After his return he lived in Greenleaf town- 
ship until the spring of 188-1, when he pur- 
chased his present farm on section 9, Cedar 
Mills township. Since that time he has 
resided upon his farm and devoted his time 
to diversified farming and stock raising. He 
has a valuable farm of 160 acres, consider- 
able of which is under cultivation, and is in 
very comfortable circumstances. 

Mr. Martin was married on January 9, 
1878, to Miss Alma Pt. Nevens. She is a 
native of Maine, born November 26, 1861, 
and is a daughter of Daniel and Eveline 
Nevens, who were among the earliest set- 
tlers of Greerdeaf township. Mr. and Mrs. 
Martin are the parents of four children, as 
follows — Luman D., born January 28, 1880; 
Mary E., born May 28, 1882; Sarah A., born 
April 28, 1885 ; and Lettie G., born Septem- 
ber 22, 1887, all of whom are now living. 



1 86 



MEEKER COUXTY, MINNESOTA. 



"OHN HUNTER, SR. The subject of this 
sketch, who is one of the most ])romi- 
iient and respected fannei-s and stock raisers 
in the northern porti(Mi of the county, is a 
resident of section IS, Union Grove township. 
He comes of a race which make the best 
citizens in Minnesota's population, and a race 
which is proverbial for their integrity, in- 
dustry, frugality, and genial and hospitable 
temperament, for it is an old and true saying 
that " no man goes liungry from a Scotch- 
man's door." 

Mr. Hunter was born in the county of 
Barrackshire, Scotland, on the 10th of April, 
1826. His early life was spent in the land 
of his birth, Avhere he received the training 
and education afforded by the facilities of 
those days, and imliibed the principles of 
honesty, industry and economy, which are 
characteristic of the Scotch ))eople. Economy 
and industry were essential in those days to 
make a living, and the wage earnings of that 
day would now be considered a pittance. 
About the year 1849 he came to America 
and settled in Canada, where he remained 
for sixteen years. He then, in 1865, came to 
Meeker county, Minn., and located on section 
18, in what is now Union Grove township, 
where he has since lived. At the time he came 
here there were only three settlers within the 
limits of the township, as all the earlier 
settlers had been driven off by the Indians 
and had not returned as yet. Mr. Hunter 
had a good deal to contend with during those 
early days and had to encounter difficulties 
and disadvantages to which most men would 
have surrendered. When he arrived here 
his earthly possessions consisted of one yoke 
of oxen and a cow, and for two years he had 
very little to eat, living a good share of the 
time on wheat boiled in milk. Flour was 
worth $16 per barrel, and potatoes $1.25 per 
bushel, and at one time he traded a two-year- 
old steer, even, for a 100-weight of flour. 
They were obliged to go to Cold Springs, a 



distance of twenty -five miles, to mdland the 
trip usually took three days. No work 
could be found, and there was no money in 
the country, and at times it looked astliough 
starvation stared them in the face, but during 
all the trials and hardships his courage and 
enterprise never forsook him and it has not 
been unrewarded, as he is now rated as one 
of the most solid and substantial citizens of 
the township in which he lives. He has a 
fine farm of 250 acres and a comfortable 
home. 

Mr. Hunter was married on the 1st of 
April, 184:9, to Agnes Brown Lee, and tlieir 
union has been blessed with seven children, 
as follows — Mary, Jane, James (deceased), 
John, Charles, Charlotte, and George 
(deceased). 

During the first year that Mr. Hunter and 
his family were liere, they had neither team 
nor cow ; they had to carry their house-logs 
out of the woods — Mr. Hunter carried one 
end and old Mr. Beaumont the other. The 
boys each had to liold forked sticlcs to reach 
to the log so as to help. When they got 
their oxen, thev did all their hauling, sum- 
mer and winter, on a sled. Deer and elk 
would often come into the doorj'ard, while 
bear was by no means an unfrequent visitor. 
On one occasion, they found by the ti-acks, 
that a bear had climbed upon the wood-house 
and from there to the roof of the cabin, 
which was covered with sod. In those days 
they were afraid that some night they might 
come down the fire chimney. Wolves were 
numerous, and in addition to this they were 
constantly on the lookout for Indians. These 
were some of the trials, experiences and 
hardships which the early settlers endured. 



UGH DOWLING, harness maker and 
dealer in horsemen's goods, Litch- 
field, is a native of Bath, Me., born Septem- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



187 



ber 29, 1848, and is the son of Edward and 
Lizzie (Hanlon) Dowling, natives of tlie Em- 
erald Isle, wiio liad settled in Maine sliortly 
before the birth of Hugh. The father of 
our suljject worked at sliip-carpentering until 
1850, in Bath, after which lie came to Minne- 
sota, and remained until 1855 in St. Paul. He 
then, in company with a Mi'. Egan, removed 
to Dakota county, this State, and was one of 
the first settlers in the town of Egan. He 
took up a homestead there, and made it 
his home until 18(56, when he sold out and 
came to Meeker county and bought a farm. 
He died here December 27, 1870. 

Hugh Dowling resided at home on tlie farm 
until he had attained the age of twentj'-five 
years, when he commenced to learn the har- 
ness-making trade. In 1879 he opened a 
shop of liis own, which burned down March 
4, 1885, with a loss of $1,900, only part of 
wliich was covered by insurance. Recover- 
ing himself, our subject soon afterward 
opened his present place of business, where 
he carries in stock all kinds of harness, robes, 
blankets, trunks, et<c. 

Mr. Dowling and Miss Kate E. Dougherty 
were united in marriage January 11, 1880. 
Tlie lady is a daughter of Thomas and Cath- 
erine (Ward) Dougherty, natives of County 
Donegal, Ireland, who were among the very 
earliest settlers in this county, coming here 
in July, 1856. Mrs. Dowling is a native of 
Will county. 111. 

OB B. SHERMAN, a prominent resident 
of Litchfield, is a native of Erie county, 
N. Y., born in 18-40. His parents were Jo- 
seph and Mercy (Willitt) Sherman ; the 
fatlier a native of Massachusetts who had 
settled in Erie county, N". Y., in 1823, and 
the mother a native of New York. They 
remained upon their old homestead in Erie 
county from the time of their settlement un- 
til the time of their deaths. 



Job B. remained with his parents until he 
was twenty-two years of age, when he en- 
listened in Company K, One Hundred and 
Sixteenth New York Infantry, serving two 
years and nine months. During this time 
he was in thirteen elitferent battles, and was 
wounded twice — first at Port Hudson, La., 
by a minie ball entering his left cheek and 
coming out at the back of his neck ; and 
again at Cedar Creek, Va., bj' a spent minie 
ball entering his left cheek. The first wound 
was serious, and unfitted him for duty for 
about six months, seven weeks of which time 
were spent in the hospital. After receiving his 
discharge from the army, Mr. Sherman re- 
turned to Erie county, N. Y., and engaged 
in farming, remaining there until 1885, when 
he settled at Litchfield. With the exception 
of one year spent in Kansas, Litchfield has 
been his home since that time. He followed 
his trade (carpentering) until the spring of 
1887, when he was appointed policeman for 
the village, which position he still holds. 
Mr. Sherman was married on the 25th of 
December, 1865, to Miss Hannah E. Sole, of 
Erie county, N. Y., and they are the parents 
of two children — Grace D., wlio was born 
December 5, 1867 ; and Blanche H., born 
July 29, 1878. Mrs. Sherman is one of the 
most active members of the Woman's Eelief 
Corps, No. 17, and is the present secretary 
of the corps. The family are members of 
the Episcopalian church. Mr. Sherman is a 
member of the Grand Army of the Republic, 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and 
also the Odd Fellows. 



,LE HALVERSON NESS is one of the 
most prominent old settlers of Meeker 
county. He was born in Hullingdal, Nor- 
way, October 6, 1824, and is a son of Halver 
Munsonand IngeberNess. His father served 
for thirty-six years in the Norwegian army, 



188 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



and Ole H. saw six years' service in the same 
army, with the rank of sergeant. In 1846 
he was married to Margaret Christian, a 
daii£rhter of Christian Knudson, who was 
born in 1821. One week after liis marriage 
Mr. Ness embarked for America with his 
parents, and settled in Rock county, Wis. 
In 1856 he sokl his farm there and came to 
Meeker county, Minn., his family being one 
of the three original families who settled in 
Litchlield township. The party came tlirough 
by " prairie-schooner" conveyance, and were 
charmed with the delightful scenery of Min- 
nesota in June. During the summer the 
family lived in "'camp-lifestyle" on the land 
where Ole H. had taken-up his claim, and in 
the fall he completed one of the first cabins 
erected in the township, and moved into it. 

After experiencing the hardships and tri- 
als incident to pioneer life, he had just begun 
to get a foothold in the M'ilderness, and was 
looking forward to the brighter days of civ- 
ilization, when the outbreak of the Sioux 
Indians came. Bred in the school of the 
intrepid Norwegian soldiery, Mr. Ness did 
not for a moment quail or hesitate before the 
onslaught of the savage redskins, but sprang 
to the defense of his home and fireside. On 
the night of the shedding of the first blood, 
a few miles from his own door, he was one 
of the few who dared to go to the scene of 
the slaughter in the darkness, and who, after 
finding the bodies of the five slain pei-sons, 
stood faithful watch until they were bm'ied. 
Then O. H. Ness went home, and, although 
the whole populace seemed to be on wheels 
to get out of the way of the savages, he 
remained at home with his family until Sat- 
urda\- following the massacre at Acton, when 
he took them to Forest City. His horses 
being pressed into service, he spent a few 
days at Kingston and then returned to For- 
est City, and superintended the building of 
fortifications there. His family occupied 
apartments over the postoffice at the time of 



the Indian attack, and he first discovered it 
while going out to change the guard, and 
had just time to arouse the people and get 
them into the fortress. After remaining at 
Forest City until the latter part of Decem- 
ber, 1862, Mr. Ness removed his family to 
the farm and kept them there during the 
entire winter — the only case of the kind in 
the whole county. The Indians destroyed 
fully $2,000 worth of pro}ierty for him. 

Mr. Ness' first mari'iage was blessed with 
eleven children, whose names are as follows 
— Sarah, Halver O., Christian, Margaret, Mar- 
tin O., Lina, Caroline and Karl. Margaret 
is married to Abt Mattson, Lina to Paul P. 
Olson, and Caroline to George Beach. The 
first wife died in August. 1877. 

Mr. Ness has retired from all active par- 
ticipation in business affairs, and is now 
pleasantly passing the evening of his life 
with his second wife. All his children have 
grown up about him, and are comfortably 
settled in life. 



-«- 



i^NE of the most intelligent and enter- 
prising farmers in the southern part of 
the county is L. M. Johnson, a resident of sec- 
tion 22, Greenleaf township. He is a native 
of Sweden, and was born on February 25, 
1844. His parents were also natives of 
Sweden, where they are still living, his father 
following the vocation of a farmer. 

L. M. Johnson, the subject of our sketch, 
was reared in early life on a farm, but later, 
while still in the old country, was employed 
at the milling business, and at the carpen- 
ter's trade. In 1867, he left the land of his 
birth and came to the United States, and 
after spending some three weeks in Chicago, 
he went to Marquette county, Mich., where 
he worked at the carpenter's trade. On May 
8, 1869, he came to Meeker countj^ Minn., 
and settled upon a farm on section 17, in 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



189 



Greenleaf township. In 1871 he entered a 
homestead of forty acres, where he now 
lives, on section 22, and moved onto it dur- 
ing the same season. He now has a splenditl 
farm of 180 acres, a large portion of which 
is under cultivation, and his buildings, which 
are among the best in the township, reflect 
great credit upon his enterprise and good 
management. He has a large amount of 
stock and carries on diversified farming, 
together with stock raising. He has taken 
an active interest in public matters. 

Mr. Johnson was married on July 4, 1867, 
to Sarah C. Olson. Her parents were born 
in Sweden, where her father died, and her 
mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson 
have been blessed with the following chil- 
dren — Johanna T., born June 24, 1869 ; 
Esther E., born October 6, 1870 ; Mary S., 
born July 11, 1873 ; John W., born October 
8, 1874 ; Ida N., born August 9, 1876 ; Euth 
J., born May 16, 1878 ; Joshua E., born 
August 24, 1881 ; and a pair of twins that 
died at the time of their birth, August 28, 
1868. The family are members of the Church 
of God. Mr. Johnson has five brothers and 
two sisters living in this country. 



^Jf^lNCENT COOMBS. The subject of 
\^l this sketcli, a successful farmer and 
stock raiser, residing on section 11, Cedar 
Mills township, is one of the oldest settlers 
in the southern portion of the county. He 
is a native of Indiana, and was born on April 
30, 1841. 

He arrived in Meeker county, ilinn., on 
the 7th of July, 1857, with his parents, Mil- 
ton and Elizabeth Coombs, he being at the 
time only sixteen years of age. The father, 
Milton Coombs, took a claim in the town of 
Ellsworth, but only remained on it a few 
days ; not being satisfied with the location, 
packed up his goods, preparatory to starting 
for Iowa. Upon arriving at Cedar City he 



was persuaded to take a claim in Cedar Mills 
township, and he accordingly selected 160 
acres of land on section 2. For some time 
they lived at Cedar City, working the farm 
in the meantime, however, and in 1859 they 
moved to the place. When the Indian out- 
break occurred, tliey with others went to the 
"Point" in Cedar Lake, where they built 
fortifications, and later went to Hutchinson. 
In the spring of 1863, they, with George 
Nichols and family, returned to Cedar Mills 
— they being the first to return. 

The family of Milton Coombs remained in 
Cedar Mills townsliip until 1865, when they 
moved to the town of Greenleaf. 

In the fall of 1869 the family moved to 
Delano and later to Minneajwlis, and thence 
to Hinckley, where they now reside. 

In the fall of 1862, Vincent Coombs en- 
listed in Captain Herriiigton's three months 
State Militia, and served during his term of 
enlistment. In the following spring he en- 
listed as a scout under General Sibley, and 
served with the Sibley expedition thi'ough 
the West. He was one of the scouts who 
picked up the son of Little Crow to the south 
of Devil's Lake. Mr. Coombs was in the In- 
dian country during most of the time while 
the trouble lasted. He was one of the four 
men who went into the timber to look after 
Caleb Sanborn, and found his body where 
the Indians had killed him, near his own 
house. He was also one of the party that 
went from Hutchinson to recover the body 
of Daniel Cross, who was killed by the Indi- 
ans north of Cedar Lake. 

In the fall of 1864 Vincent Coombs sold 
the farm in Cedar Mills and took a home- 
stead in Greenleaf township. In the spring 
of 1869 he was married to Miss Lydia A. 
Abbott, of Forest Prairie. Mrs. Coombs died 
on the 18th of November, 1878, leaving her 
husband five small children to care for, her 
last request being that her childi-en be kept 
together, and it has been faithfully fulfilled. 



I go 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Mr. Coombs was again married in the 
spring of 1SS3, when Sarah J. Jordan, of 
Cedar Mdls, became his wife. Our subject 
resided ill tlie town of Greenleaf until the 
spring of 18S7, when he sokl his phice and 
purchased the Pitman farm, of a fraction over 
332 acres, located on sections 2 and 11, Cedar 
Mills township. While in Greenleaf, Mr. 
Coombs held many offices of a local nature, 
and took an active and prominent part in 
politics, township matters and educational 
affairs. He is a meinber of the Masonic 
order, having joined Golden Fleece lodge, 
No. 80, A. F. & A. M., in 1872, and Eabboni 
chapter. No. 37, Eoyal Arch, in 1887. "When 
the Grange movement s'tarted he was one of 
the leading members in the oi'ganization and 
was master of the Greenleaf lodge. 

Mr. Coombs has now one of the best farms 
in the town of Cedar Mills, he and his wife 
together owning 412 acres of the finest 
land in this region. Mr. Coombs has good 
substantial buildings and a nice artificial 
grove, set out by Rev. J. M. Pitman about 
twenty years ago. In conversation with Mr. 
Coombs, he said : " I am my mother's best 
boy — being the only boy in ten children." 



^^ P. PETERSON, attorney at law, of 
\^i Litchfield, came to Meeker county in 
May, 1S67, with his parents, Olof and Hedda 
F. Peterson. E. P. Peterson was born in 
Goodhue county, Minn., in June, 1855, and 
was therefore twelve years of age when he 
came here. His father took a homestead in 
Harvey township and remained until 1883, 
when he removed to Nicollet countj'^, and 
later to Des Moines, Iowa, where he still lives. 
E. P. Peterson remained at home attending 
school, and also spent one year in the State 
University, and when he had arrived at the 
age of nineteen he began teaching school, 



and followed tliat profession for three years. 
Then, m company with his brother H. I., 
he bought the Litchfield IndepeiuJent. In 
1880, selling his interest in the paper to his 
brother, he began the study of law with 
Campbell & Spooner, of Litchfield, and 
about two years later was admitted to the 
bar. Since that time he has devoted his time 
exclusively to his profession, and has been 
very successful. 



^P^HOMAS F. PRICE, a prominent old 
XiL- settler of Meeker county, residing on 
section IS, Harvey township, is a native of 
Gilmanton, N. H., and was born on the 18th 
of August, 1838. His puivnts were Thomas 
and Ann E. Price. The father was born in 
Gilmanton, N. H., and remained there until 
the time of his death, February 14, 1849. 
The mother was a native of Med way, Mass., 
born August 26, 1809. She came West with 
her family in the fall of 1856, and for six 
months remained at Minneapolis, after which 
she settled at Kingston, in Meeker county, 
and made her home in this county, after- 
ward, however, removing to Harvey township, 
until the time of her death Januaiw 10, 1877. 
She was formerly Ann E. Purlen from Med- 
way, Mass., and w;is united in marriage to 
Thomas Price, of Gilmanton, N. II., October 
30,1836. After coming West she endured 
many hardships and privations, especially 
during the outbreak of the Indians in 1862, 
but still maintained great fortitude and 
courage through all — alwavs cheerful and 
looking on the bright side, until the last, and, 
at sixty-seven years, passed away, after suf- 
fering acutely for over one 3' ear. She was 
a member of the Congregational church, 
with her husband, ller remains were buried 
at Manannah cemetery. There were five 
children in her family, four of whom — E. A., 
of Big Stone county, Minn., Thomas F., 
Harriet M., and Augusta A. — are still living. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



igi 



One member of the family, a son, Wilmot 
Austin Price, died in Harvey, October 9, 1870, 
and was buried in the Manannah cemetery. 

Thomas F. Price, the subject of om- present 
sketch, spent most of his early life in his 
native town. He received the education 
afforded by the facilities of those days, and 
at an early age he learned the carpenter's 
trade, which he worked at more or less at 
Boston and other places. In 1856 he came 
West with his mother's family to Minneapo- 
lis, and six months later to Kingston. They 
were living there when tiie Indian outbreak 
occurred. The^^ remained at Kingston dur- 
ing all of the trouble with the redskins, al- 
though nearly all of the settlers throughout 
the county went away for safety. In 1863 
they removed to Harvey township, where 
Thomas F. has since lived. He has devoted 
his time to general farming and stock raising 
and owns a valuable farm. 

In religious matters Mr. Price attends the 
Congregational church, and in his political 
views he affiliates with the republican party. 
He has taken considerable interest in town- 
ship affairs, and has served more or less as 
justice of peace during the last few years. 
Mr. Price is a man of the strictest integrity, 
and is justly regarded as one of the leading 
citizens of the township in which he lives. 



-««S€^«-i^* 



UNDER H. SUNDAHL is one of the 
eading farmers in the southeastern 
portion of Acton township. He is a son of 
Halver and Mary Sundahl, and was born in 
JSTorway, on the 28th of July, 18-16. He re- 
mained in his native land until 1870, when 
he came to the United States, and first 
stopped in Iowa, where he worked at rail- 
road work for three years. In 1873 he came 
to Litchfield, and for two years was em])lo}'ed 
by various farmers in the neighborhood, 
after which for two years he ran a ditching 



machine. He then purchased a farm of 152 
acres on section 25, Acton township, where 
he has since lived, devoting his time to diversi- 
fied farming and stock raising. He has been 
very successful, and now has a good lot of 
stock gathered about him. His farm is in a 
good location and he has a considerable por- 
tion of it under cultivation. 

Mr. Sundahl was married in 1878 to Miss 
Christina Olson, who was born on the 12th 
of July, 1856. She was a daughter of An- 
drew Olson, who was killed by the Indians 
in September, 1862, a short distance from 
where Mr. Sundahl now lives. A full account 
of this matter is given elsewhere. Mr. and 
Mrs. Sundahl have had the following chil- 
dren born to them : Halver. born December 
31, 1878 ; Andrew, born August 28, 1880 ; 
Matilda, born March 29, 1881 ; and Lura, 
born March 18, 1884. Mr. Sundahl takes an 
active interest in all matters pertaining to the 
welfare of his to\vnship, and is one of its 
leading citizens. He is a republican in polit- 
ical matters. 



J^^ RELIABLE and enterprising citizen of 
J^>^ of Ellsworth township is N. D. Mer- 
rill, livmg on section 32, where he is engaged 
in carrying on general farming and stock 
raising. He first came to Minnnesota in 
1855, and after a year spent in Minneapohs, 
settled in Buffalo, Wright county, where he 
made his home until the breaking out of the 
Civil War, when, imbued with the patriotism 
of an American citizen, Mr. Merrill enlisted 
in the Second Minnesota Battery, under the 
command of Captain Hotchkiss, on January 
1, 1862, and on the 21st of April following, 
moved forward to the seat of war. The 
company was engaged for the first time at 
the capture of Corinth, and from that time 
on made a creditable record for itself in the 
conflicts of Perryville, Knob Gap, Stone 
River, Chattanooga, Mission Kidge and 



192 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



others. When the war closed they were on 
detached duty in East Tennessee, where they 
were mustered out. His term of service 
over, Mr. Merrill returned to Minnesota, 
where he remained until 1867, when he re- 
moved to Montana, where he was engaged 
in mining for three years, returning to 
Wright county, this State, from whence he 
came to Meeker county, in 1870, and here 
has made his home ever since. He is a 
native of Maine, born in Dover, Decem- 
ber 29, 1834, and is the son of True and 
Sally C. Merrill, both natives of Maine, the 
father having been born September 7, 1806, 
and the mother, Jul}' 25, 1805. 

True and Sally C. Merrill were married 
October 11, 1827, and were the parents of 
the following children : E. W., born March 
19, 1829 ; S. T., born May 25, 1831 ; Betsy 
A., born February 14, 1833; N. D., the sub- 
ject of this sketch ; Julia A., born February 
2, 1837 ; Sarah E., born July 26, 1839 ; 
Charles L., born May 19, 1842, and Marinda 
A., born July 3, 1844. 

N. D. Merrill, our subject, was married on 
July 21, 1870, to Mrs. Ireland, widow of 
Wesley Ireland. She was a native of Pen- 
obscot county. Me.; was married in 1860 
to Mr. Ireland, who afterward died. She 
came to Minnesota in 1864 with her one 
child, Ellen M., and lived a widow until her 
marriage with Mr. Merrill. Her daughter, 
Ellen M. Ireland, was born November 1, 
1861, and is now Mrs. A. G. Hoot, of 
Nebraska. 



>ALEB HULL, a prosperous and enlight- 
^ ened farmer of Dassel township, hav- 
ing his home on section 10, is a native of 
Herkimer county, N. Y., born in the town of 
Russia, September 26, 1824, and is the son 
of Benjamin and Betsey (Clapper) Hull, 
natives of lihode Island and New York, 
respectively. Benjamin Hull removed to 



Dodge county. Wis., in 1851, where he died 
in 1861 ; his wife some years later came to 
Meeker countv, and died at Forest City in 
1877. 

The subject whose name heads this per- 
sonal sketch, commenced at the age of thir- 
teen years to learn the shoemaker's trade, and 
after devoting three years to it, went to St. 
Lawrence county, N. Y., whither his 
parents had removed, where he made his 
home for three years. Coming West, he 
spent the same period of time in Jefferson 
county. Wis., and then was engaged in the 
pineries of that State for six years. On his 
return, he built a house at Hustisford, Dodge 
county, Wis., but from there went to the 
Michigan pineries, where he spent some three 
years more, and then came back to Dodge 
county, where, December 1, 1855, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Eunice Frost. 
The next year of his life was passed in 
Watertown, AVis., after which he removed 
to Freeborn county, Minn., and purchased 
160 acres of land on section 6, town of Free- 
man, where he settled. While there, he fol- 
lowed hunting and trapping to a great ex- 
tent, and found it highly remunerative ; so 
much so as to enable him to provide his 
family with many comforts that the other 
new settlers could not reach. While thus 
engaged, came the news of the Indian out- 
break of 1862, and most of his neighbors 
fled panic stricken, but he would not go. 
One day, while returning from his work in 
Iowa, he met a numljer of his neighbors who 
advised him not to go home, saying, with 
their selfish instincts ujtpermost, that by the 
time he got there, his family would be mur- 
dered and his home in flames, as the Indians 
were close behind ; but, nol^ly responding to 
his duty, which called liim to the ilefense of 
his family, he went on and found all peace- 
ful at home, and the danger mucli magnified 
by their fears and abject tenor. He re- 
mained in Freeborn county some nine years 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



195 



and then sold out and came to Meeker 
county, arriving here July 7, 18G7. He 
took up a homestead on section 10, where he 
now lives, but lived in Darwin until the 
spring of 1868, and then moved into a log 
cabin, where the family lived until he could 
get a house built, which stood where his 
present cottage now stands. This latter was 
erected in 1879, at a cost of $1,000, and is 
handsome, neat and commodious, and he has 
a fine farm of 120 acres of excellent land. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hull have had a family of 
six children, four of whom still survive — 
Augustus, living in Dakota, Ida E., Mrs. 
Charles Penny, of Dassel; Lillie B., and 
Mark W., at home. Mr. Hull has served in 
several official positions, chief among which 
was that of chairman of the town board of 
supervisors. 



MELS CLEMENTS, of Litchfield, is the 
son of Nels and Betsy Clements, and 
Avas born in Meeker county May 14, 1860. 
His parents, natives of Sweden, came to 
Meeker county in 1857, and on the 20th of 
August settled in the town of Litchfield on 
a farm, where they lived until the death of 
the father, in 1870. During the time of the 
Indian outbreak Nels Clements removed for 
safety to Forest City, and manfully did his 
part toward the building of the stockade and 
its defense. Having been on friendly terms 
with the Indians, they did not destroy his 
house, but stole all the provisions and stock 
that were left on the place. 

Nels remained at home upon the paternal 
farm until he was of aye, on attaininu- which 
he went to Minneapolis, but returned during 
the following winter. The season of 1SS2 
he spent in Montana, but, returning to this 
county in 1883, he located in Grove City, 
and went into the farm-machinery ])usiness. 
In 1881 he came to Litchfield and tended 
bar for S. A. Scarp, but in October, 1886, 



opened the saloon he now lams. He was 
married April 30, 1886, to Miss Kate Men- 
ten, a native of Meeker count}^, Minn., and 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Men- 
ten, natives of Germany. By this union 
there has been born one child — Mary, whose 
birth took place May 9, 1887. 



5^ ELS AKESON is one of the prominent 
y''^ and well-to-do citizens of Swede 
Grove township. Mr. Akeson is a son of 
Ake and Hannah Anderson, and was born 
in Sweden on the 9th of May, 1841. He 
came to the United States in 1868, and first 
settled at Stillwater, Minn., where he lived 
for about seven years, being employed part 
of the time in a saw mill, again at railroading 
and various other means of securing a living. 
In 1875 he came to Swede Grove township, 
and bought a farm on section 35, where he 
has since remained, carrying on general farm- 
ing and stociv raising. He has a comfortable 
home, having a neat frame house and a very 
fine barn 30x44 feet in size, and has gathered 
about him considerable stock. When he 
came to the United States he had only fifty 
cents in his pocket, but by industry and good 
management he has placed himself in com- 
fortable circumstances, and to-day is one of 
the substantial farmers of his township. 
Mr. Akeson married Anna, a daughter of 
Ole and Carrie Anderson. She was born 
January 17, 1851. They have had the fol- 
lowing children : Hilma, born July 18, 1875; 
Hattie, born February 23, 1877 ; Carrie, born 
February 10, 1879 ; Ake, born April 24, 1881 ; 
Ella, born September 13, 1883; and Olof, 
born August 9, 1887. The family are mem- 
bers of the Swedish Lutheran church. Mr. 
Akeson has taken a prominent and active 
part in all public matters, and has held the 
ottice of township clerk since 1882. He is a 
republican in political faith. 



196 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



JMLON. JOHN S. SHIELDS, the present 
\j -X^ state senator from Meeker county, is 
a resident of Darwin townsliip, living upon 
his fine and extensive farm on section 34. 
He is a native of Ottawa, Canada, born 
November 8, 1830, and is of Irish ancestry, 
at least ujwn liis father's side. He was 
reai-ed and educated in the Dominion of his 
birth until is.",;), when he came to the 
United States, and from June until the 
following fall remained mostly in the city of 
Minneapohs. During this time he came to 
Meeker county, and prospected, spending 
July 4, 1859, here, and the following August 
came here and made a settlement at Forest 
City, where he resided until that winter, when 
he located wliere he now lives. I'revious to 
leaving his liome, on the 24th of May, 1859, 
he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret 
Kenney, and with his young wife came 
through the Big Woods to the new settle- 
ment. Mr. Shields furnished the labor 
toward making the first United States flag 
ever floated in Meeker county, J. B. Atkin- 
son furnishing the cloth and Thomas Gray- 
son the paint. He was appointed in 1860, 
by the State, to cut a road thrnugh the Biff 
Woods, and did so about this time, and 
through it hauled the merchandise for a 
merciiant at Forest City, which was the first 
load brought that way. Mr. Shields remained 
upon his farm until the sad times of the fall 
of 1862, but on the terrible Sabbath of the 
17th of August, he heard the news of the 
Indian outbreak and went to Forest City to 
investigate. He returned and warned all 
witliin his reach. He took part in the 
inquest, and all the subsequent movements 
of the settlers as detailed elsewhere. He 
sent his wife and children to Clearwater, but 
he remained in Forest City and took part in 
all the marclies, engagements, etc., of the 
Home Guards, although not mustered into 
the company. When the attack was made 
by the Indians on Forest Citv, Jir. Shields 



was sleeping in the barn with the sixty 
horses of the Home Guards, and on the com- 
mencement of the tiring untied his two 
horses and endeavored to get to the stockade, 
but one horse was shot, and with the other 
he got away. This was the only horse 
saved out of the lot. Many more incidents 
of his bravery could be given did not space 
forbid, but it is enough to say that lie did 
his duty manfully. 

He afterward went to Minneajiolis, where 
he remained until 1865, but in the fall of that 
year returned to this county and to his farm 
where he now lives. He has occupied several 
responsible positions since coming here, in- 
cluding that of chairman of the town board, 
assessor, town clerk, and justice of the peace, 
and was elected to represent the county in 
the State Senate in 1886, on the Farmers* 
Alliance ticket, of which organization he is 
the present president. He is the father of 
the following six children : Isabella, born 
April 15, 1860, and died October 29, 1879; 
EUen J., born December 19, 1864; William 
A., born August 20, 1868 ; Maggie E., born 
April 2, 1870 ; and Charles A., born October 
2, 1872. On the 11th of December, 1874, 
the death angel invaded this little family 
circle and drew from their affectionate em- 
brace the beloved wife and mother, leaving 
only her memory in their inner hearts, wliere 
it is forever enshrined. Mr. Shields is an 
attendant upon the services of tlw Episcopal 
chui'ch, and an upright, honorable gentle- 
man. 

In the fall of 1886, as above mentioned, 
Mr. Shields was elected to represent his 
district in the State Senate, took his seat at 
the opening of the Twenty fifth Legislature, 
and holds that office at the present writing. 
In the last session lie was among the most 
active and influential members of that body, 
and ably represented liis constituents in a ses- 
sion which was among the most important 
held in the historv of the State. His influence 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



197 



and ability were recognized in the formation 
of the senate committees, and none more 
zealously favored and aided anti-monopoly 
legislation. He has been identified with 

O 

Minnesota matters for more than a quarter 
of a century and is well informed as to its 
history. An able parliamentarian, a clear- 
headed and careful business man, lie has ac- 
cumulated a comfortable fortune. 



lllyHE PRESENT register of deeds of 
\j Meeker county, N. A. Vieen, came to 
this section of the State in 1858, and in April 
of that \'ear passed through to tiie extreme 
frontier of those days, and located in Kan- 
diyohi county. He remained there until the 
,21st of August, 1862, when the dreadful 
massacre of the defenseless settlers by the 
red wards of our government struck terror 
into the hearts of all upon the borders, for 
their loved ones were in imminent danger. 
Mr. Viren joined the tide of fugitives for 
safety, and finally, after considerable travel, 
reached Forest Cit}' with his family. He 
took the latter on to Clearwater, where he 
left them, and returned to assist those who 
were less fortunate and to help make a stand 
against the diabolical I'ed fiends, who, reek- 
ing with the blood of the innocents, thirsted 
for more lives to take. He did not join the 
home guai'ds, but was active in many of the 
volunteer expeditions that went out to look 
up stock, etc., and was in Kandiyohi at the 
time of the attack on Forest City. After 
performing his part in the operations of that 
fall Mr. Viren removed to St. Paul, where 
he made his home until 180!*, when he again 
tur-ed westward, and located in Litchfield, 
where lie opened a wagon shop, wliicii busi- 
ness he continued in until assuming the du- 
ties of register of deeds, in January, 1871, to 
which he had been elected tiie previous fall. 
He remained in this oSice, being reelected 




his own successor, until January, 1879. He 
during the next few years filled the positions 
of justice of the peace and town clerk, but 
at the regular election of November 4, 1884, 
the people of the county manifested a wish 
for him to resume the office of register of 
deeds, and he accordingly entered upon its 
well-known duties in January, 1885, where 
he has remained ever since. 

Mr. Viren is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, a charter member of Golden Fleece 
lodge, iSTo. 89, and also connected with the 
A. O. U. W. 

V. BROWN, the efficient 
station and express agent at Eden 
Valley came to tiiat village November 15, 
1886, to take charge of tlie Minneapolis & 
Pacific Railroad Company's business, and 
has remained tiiere in that position ever 
since. He became the agent for the Amer- 
ican Express Company in the fall of 1886, 
also. 

Mr. Brown was born in the beautiful city 
of Watertown, Jeff'erson county. Wis., 
January 8, 1858, and is the son of Peter V. 
and Elizabeth (Johnson) Brown, both of 
whom were natives of New York. The 
father of our subject was one of the early 
settlers and pioneer merchants of Water- 
town, and is one of the stockholders of the 
Wisconsin National Bank of that ]ilace, 
where he still resides. 

The subject of our sketch received his 
education in the excellent schools of his 
native city, and at the age of fifteen entered 
the office of tlie Northwestern Telegraph 
Company at that place, as manager, where 
he remained four years. He was then trans- 
ferred to Eau Claire, Wis., but a short time 
after came to St. Paul and entered the office 
of the train despatcher of the St. Paul & 
Sioux City Railroad Company, where he 
remained about one year. In May, 1878, 



198 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



he became station agent at Darwin, Meeker 
county, in the employ of the St. Paul, Minne- 
apolis & Manitoba Railroad Company, and 
remained at that post four years. 

The next two years he h.ad charge of the 
station at Willmar, but in 188-4 went to West- 
ern Montana, as traveling auditor of the 
iNorthern Pacific Railroad, which position he 
held for two years, and then accepted his 
present place. His upright dealing and 
straightforward, gentlemanly demeanor has 
won him hosts of friends, and his future looks 
bright. 

OHN LINDGREN, who has charge of 
the Farmer's and JMerchant's Co-operat- 
ive Elevator at Litchfield, is a native of 
Sweden, born in 1854. He was brought to 
America when still less than four years of 
age by his step-father, his father having died 
when John was an infant. 

Mr. Lindgren lived with his step-father, T. 
G. Cornelius, until he was thirteen years of 
age, when he began life for himself, working 
on a farm in Meeker county. In the spring 
of ISSO he went to llallock, Kittson county, 
Minn., where he had charge of a large farm 
for four years, after which he returned to 
Litchfield, where he has since been connected 
with the grain trade. Mr. Lindgren was 
married in 1876 to Miss Matilda Olson, of 
Stevens county. They have four living 
children — Annie M., George J., Bertha E., 
and an infant. 



<4« 



^^^ 



gf^RED SWANSON. The subject of this 
Ijiography, a jirominent and respected 
fanner, residing on section 2, Greenleaf 
towruship, is a native of Sweden, born Maj' 
5, 1S46. He remained in his native land 
until twenty-one years of age, when he came 
to the United States and settled in ]\Iar- 
quette count\% Mich. For six years he was 



employed in the iron mines in that county, 
and then came to Meeker county, Minn., and 
purchased a farm on section 2, in Greenleaf 
township. By good management, industry 
and economy he has been very successful in his 
farming operations, notwithstanding the fact 
that he has met with the partial loss of crops 
in various j'ears, and is to day in comfort- 
able circumstances and justly rated as one of 
the substantial and "solid " citizens of his 
townshi]). He has an excellent farm of 213 
acres, about half of which is under cultiva- 
tion, and has it well stocked. The place is 
a valuable one, and is located in the best 
farming district in Meeker county. 

Mr. Swanson was married in 1809 to Miss 
Mary L. Walstrom. She was a native of 
Sweden, and had settled in Marquette county, 
Mich., in 1869, being twenty-three years old 
at that time. Her father died when she was 
yet a child, and her mother remained in Swe- 
den until 1882, when she came to live with 
her daughter in Greenleaf. Mr. and Mrs. 
Swanson have been the parents of seven chil- 
dren, six of wliom are still living. Their 
names are as follows — Clara J., born March 
29, 1870; Carl J., ])orn September 27, 1873; 
Hebna M. (deceased), born October 14, 1875, 
died December 24, 1886 ; Ida E., born Sep- 
tember 6, 1878; Esther M., born April 1, 
1881 ; Hulda E., born June 1, 1885 ; and Sig- 
frid E., born December 4, 1886. 



M DELBERT B. HOAR, a thrifty and 
J^-S^ enterprising young farmer residing 
on section 32, Union Grove township, is the 
eldest son of David B. and Melissa (Bryant) 
Hoar, and was born in Wright county, Minn., 
on the 12th of December, 1862. A full 
sketch of his parents will be found in another 
department of this work, as they were among 
the most jM'oininent early settlers in the north- 
Avestern part of the county. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



199 



The subject of our present sketch com- 
menced hfe for himself when about twenty- 
one years of age, but remained at home for a 
year or so after that time. He received the 
education afforded by the pubhc schools, and 
supplemented this by attending the Litch- 
field schools for some time. On the 4th of 
May, 1887, he was married to Miss Emma A. 
Caswell, a daughter of Nathan W., and 
Margaret (Robinson) Caswell. She was born 
at Brompton, Province of Quebec, Can., 
March 9, 1865. 

Mr. Hoar purchased eighty acres of land on 
section 32, Union Grove township, in 1885, 
and that forms liis present place. He has a 
comfortable residence, and substantial farm 
buildings and is getting in good shape for 
carrying on his farming and stock raising 
operations. In addition to this he owns a 
half interest in an improvetl steam thresher, 
and during the proper season devotes his 
attention to that business. 



MOS NELSON FOSEN, ex-county 
^)^ treasurer of Meeker county, and now 
a prominent farmer residing on section 31, 
Litchfield township, is a native of Norway, 
born on the 26th of September, 1837, and a 
son of Nels and Malline (Ilovelsen) Gunder- 
son. His father died in Norway in 1886 at 
the age of eighty-two years, and the mother 
is still a resident of his native land. In 1855 
Amos sailed for the [Jnited States, and after 
spending one year in Wisconsin, he came to 
Meeker county, Minn., becoming one of the 
six original settlers of Litchfield township. 
He first took up a timber claim on section 
25, in Acton township, but afterward 
settled on section 30, in Litchfield township, 
and retained property there until 1887, when 
he sold that and rented the Crowe farm on 
section 31, where he now^ lives. In 1861 he 
went to Fort Snelling to enlist for service in 



the army, but before being sworn in he re- 
ceived a commission as a recruiting officer 
and started for home to raise men. He had 
to walk the entire distance and sleep out of 
doors at night, thereby contracting rheum- 
atism, which unfitted him for service, and 
from which he has never fully I'ecovered. At 
the time of the Indian outbreak in 1862 his 
farm was tenanted by Burger Anderson, and 
he onl}' spent a portion of the time there. 
He was employed as a farm hand by Jones, 
and narrowly escajjed being one of the party 
that was murdered f»n that fatal Sunday — 
August 17, 1862. 

After the excitement attendant on the 
Indian troubles had somewhat subsided he 
returned to his farm. He was married, in. 
1869, to Eacliel Hanson, a daughter of Chris- 
topher Hanson. They have had eight 
children, one of Avhich died in infancy, and 
the rest are all living at home, as follows 
— Nels A., Mathilda Caroline, Laura Marie, 
Kagna Amelia, Agnes Eosilia, Hjalmar 
Arthur and Gunda Mabel. The family are 
active members of the Ness Norwegian Luth- 
eran church. Mr. Fosen has always taken a 
commendable interest in all public matters 
and has held a great many local offices, be- 
sides which he held the office of county 
treasui'er for three successive terms. 



WILLIAM H. JOHNS, of the firm of 
Johns Brothers, dealers in hard- 
ware, at Litchfield, and one of the most promi- 
nent business men in Meeker count}', is a native 
of Louisa, Lawrence county, Ky., the date of 
his birth being July 23, 1855. His parents 
w^ere Daniel N. and Annie [Atkins] Johns. 
In 1864 the family removed to McLeod county, 
Minn., and purchased a farm upon which they 
lived for a number of years, but they are now 
residents of Glencoe, in the same county. 
William H. remained with his parents until 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



twenty-one years of age, during which time 
he received the advantages of a common- 
school education in the district scliools, anil 
also attended tlie higher gi'aded scliools at 
Howard Lake and Hutchinson. Upon ai-riv- 
ino- at his majority he began life for himself, 
and for four or five years was engaged at 
teaching school and working on a farm. He 
then went to Groton, Dak., and in com^iany 
with his brother, D. B. Johns, opened a hard- 
Avare store under the firm name of Johns 
Brothers. They remained in trade at that 
place for about six years, when they sold out 
and opened their present business at Litch- 
field. Mr. Johns is a member of tlie Masonic 
fraternity, having joined Groton lodge No. 
G5, in 1SS6; and is also a member of an Odd 
Fellow's lodge at the same place. 



/^ ZRA B. COMSTOCK. Among the 
\^^ well known ]ioi)ular educators and 
school teachers of Meeker county, there is, 
perhaps, no better representative than Mr. 
Comstock, a resident of Ellsworth township, 
living in the village of Greenleaf. lie is a 
native of Canada, having first seen the light 
October 8, 1838, in Brown county, in the 
province of Quebec, and is the son of Anson 
and Hannah (Constadt) Comstock, both of 
whom have passed to their reward in the 
land beyond the river of death. 

Our subject received the benefits of a 
primary education in the district schools of 
his native count}', and knowing the advan- 
tages to be derived from it, for two years 
was a student at I'rowne College, from which 
he was graduated in 1858. His studies for a 
time were in the direction of civil engineering 
but meeting with an accident to one of his 
limlis, whicli disqualified from the labors 
incident upon that profession, he gave it up 
and turned his attention to "teaching 
the vounff idea how to slioot." He com- 



menced his life's labors as pedagogue in his 
native land. He came to the State of Min- 
nesota in 18G9, and for some four years 
presided over the studies of a large school. 
From there he came to Meeker count}', 
locating, for the nonce in Cedar Mills town- 
shi]), where he remained, following his pro- 
fession, for some four years, and then 
removed to his present residence, in Green- 
leaf. 

May 21, 1861, Mr. Comstock was united in 
marriage with Miss Eliza Cook, a native also 
of the Dominion of Canada, with whom he 
had been to school in his youth. Her par- 
ents, both of whom were born in tlie same 
section of country, are both dead, the mother 
dying when Mrs. Comstock was but a child, 
and the father in June, 1SG7. By this union 
Mr. and Mrs. Comstock have one child — 
Myrtie M., who was born in Meeker county, 
this State, May 12, 1875. 

In his political views, Mr. Comstock coin- 
cides with the republican party, although 
not blindly partisan. His judgment and 
own intelligence are what he mostly depends 
upon. He has held many of the more im- 
portant township offices since coming here, 
and always with honor. He has been a 
constant resident since 187,3, except that 
during the year 1870 when he was teaching 
in St. Paul, he has taken a deep interest in 
the advancement of educational matters, and 
to him is due a share of the jmjgress made 
in this direction by Ellsworth township. 
Mr. Comstock at present holds a commis- 
sion as notary public. 



►h4^^ 



BANIEL AVERY CROSS, deceased, was 
one of the most prominent of those 
hardy pioneers who first located in the 
southern part of the county. He was born 
in Oneida county, N. Y., on the 6th of 
Julv, 1820. When he was five years old, 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



his parents removed to Indiana. His fatlier 
died when he was ten years of age, and he 
was early thrown upon his own resources. 

In 1857, accompanied l)y his family, which 
consisted of his wife and two children, and 
also a man named E. Dibbel, Mr. Cross came 
to Minnesota and took a claim on section 13, 
in what is now Cedar Mills townshij). They 
arrived in July, and Mr. Cross and family 
lived in tlieir wagon on the bank of Cedar 
Lake until fall. That fall they built a house 
an Cedar City, McLeod county, as they were 
unable to procure the logs unless they built 
on the town site, a plan which was followed 
for the purpose of building up a village. 
Two years later they moved the house to 
the claim, and lived there until the Indian 
outbreak occurred. At the time the news of 
the massacre reached him, Mr. Cross moved 
his family to the "Point," in Cedar Lake; 
but a short time later moved them to Hutch- 
inson. "When the report came tljat the 
Indians were raiding and burning in Cedar 
Mills, volunteers were called to go on an 
expedition, and Mr. Cross was one of the 
first to offer his services. They followed 
the Indians until dark, and then spent the 
night at Mr. Cross' house. In the morning 
Llr. Cross, with five others, started to go to 
the house of Caleb Sanborn, who lived on the 
north side of Cedar Lake, to warn him of 
his danger if the Indians had not already 
killed him. While on their way they were 
surprised by the Indians, and Mr. Cross was 
shot and killed, while the others fled. Mr. 
Cross laid where he fell until the following 
day, when his remains were taken to Hutch- 
inson, where the}^ were interred on the 25th 
of September, 1862. His death was mourned 
by a wide circle of friends. He was a man 
possessed of the very best of qualities, and 
of the strictest integrity and honor. 

Soon after the death of Mr. Cross, the 
widow returned to her former home in 
Indiana, where she remained for a year 



and a half, when she returned to the farm 
on section 13, Cedar Mills township, where 
she has since lived. Mrs. Cross has two 
children, who are now living: Mary E., now 
Mrs. A. Jordan, of Greenleaf township; 
and Daniel Avery, who was born March 16, 
1863, and still lives on the old homestead, 
where he carries on farming and stock 
raisino". 



-*- 



OHN SNELL, the leading furniture deal- 
er of Litchfield, is a native of Verina 
Island, Sweden, born September 5, 1831, and 
is the son of Andrew and Katherine (Berg- 
stadt) Snell. He was reared at home until 
he had attained the age of seventeen, when 
he commenced to learn the cabinet-maker's 
trade, and served an apprenticeship at that 
until he was twenty-one years old. He then 
determined to emigrate to the New World, 
the " promised land " of the poor of the old 
countries, and, accordingly set sail for New 
York. For eighteen months after landing 
there he was employed in John dander's 
piano manufactory in the metropolis of 
America, after which time he removed to 
Galesburg, 111., and for a year was engaged 
at his trade. Coming still farther west after 
a short time spent in St. Paul, he located in 
Carver, Carver county, Minn., in 185-1. That 
village had just been laid out, and as an induce- 
ment to have so excellent a mechanic settle 
among them, Mr. Snell was given a lot in 
the village upon which to build. He put up 
a house there, and commenced making chairs, 
tables, etc., by hand, using one room in his 
house for a shop. Later on he erected a 
small mill that ran by water-power, which 
greatly facilitated his work, and remained, 
actively engaged in trade in that place until 
1874, when he sold out his interests there 
and removed to Chicago. In the latter city 
he was engaged in carrying on the photo- 
graphic business, he having accpiired some 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



knowledge of that art while living in Carver. 
In 1877 he came to Litchfield and purchased 
his present business, to wiiich he has added 
undertaking, and has been employed in tiiat 
ever since. In 1879 he began the erection of 
his present handsome quarters, finishing it 
the next year. It is a tine brick building of 
some eighty feet front, and corresponding 
depth, and one of the handsomest in the 
village. 

Mr. Snell was married while in New Yoi'k. in 
1852, to Miss Esther Peterson, who died May 
13, 1864, in Carver, leaving two children — 
Clara A., born May 15, 1858, now the wife of 
William Murdock, a business man of Chi- 
cago ; and Hilda E.. bori) January 8, 1802, now 
Mrs. E. M. "Warhanich, whose husband is a 
druggist in the same city. Mr. Snell was 
again married July 2*), 1865, to Miss Ida 
Peterson, who has been the mother of three 
children, onl}'^ one of whom is living — Alvin 
O., born IVlarch 17, 1867. Those deceased 
were Ida, born April 26, 1866,and died Novem- 
ber 12, 1883; and Julian Paul, born May 
5, 1870, and died July 13, 1872. Mrs. Snell 
was born August 17, 1830, and is a most 
estimable woman. 

PETER JOHNSON is one of the leading 
farmers living in the southern part of 
Acton township, his residence being on sec- 
tion 33. Mr. Johnson is a son of Peter and 
Sarah Johnson, and was born in Norway on 
the 17th of October, 183-4. lie came to the 
United States in 1868, and for about a year 
was employed at Minneapolis in a brick yard 
and in different saw-mills. In 1869 he came 
to Meeker county and took a homestead of 
forty acres on the line between Acton and 
Danielson townships. After proving up on 
the homestead he removed his house to an 
adjoining eighty acres which he had pur- 
chased in the meantime. He still lives on 
the last named place. 



Mr. Johnson was married in Norway to 
Miss Guru Peterson, a daughter of Peter 
and Mary Henderson. B\' this marriage 
they have had the following named ciiil- 
dren— Sarah, born November 28, 1860; 
Mary, born September 5, 1862 ; John, born 
November 28, 1866 ; Catherine, born Sep- 
tember 8, 1869 ; Peter, born November 12, 
1872 ; Christian, born March 18, 1875 ; M;v 
tilda, born December 30, 1878 ;and Hannah, 
born October 15, 1881. Mary is now the 
wife of Theodore Christian Kue, a resident 
of Cosmos township. Meeker county; and 
Sarah is now the wife of Lewis Olson, who 
is a resident of Dakota Territoi-v. 



'J^^-4- 



5r OHN BLOMBERG is a prominent 
iy fanner who i-esides on section 18, 
Acton township. He is a native of Sweden, 
born October 27, 1835, antl is a son of Jones 
and Engriel Blomberg. In 1857 he came to 
the United States and settled in Chisago 
county, Minn., where for three j^ears he was 
engaged at farming and lumbering. He 
than went to Olmstead county, where for two 
years he worlced for different parties. Re- 
turning to Chisago county, he made that his- 
home until 1864, when he went to Taylor's 
Falls and enlisted in Company D, Third 
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. He served 
one year with his regiment, and after being 
honorably discharged he worked in Chicago, 
Goodhue and other counties until 1867, when 
he came to JVIeeker county and took a home- 
stead claim in Acton township. For nearly 
a year after this he worked in the pineries, 
but in 1868 he settled on his homestead and 
has since lived there. He was a poor man 
when he came to the United States and M'as 
even obliged to borrow a portion of the 
money with which he paid his passage ; but 
his perseverance, industry and economy have 
been rewarded, and he is now in comfortable 



.iii^Si 



i -'^ii^m- 






MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



205 



circumstances and getting along well. He 
owns 212 acres of land, 110 acres of which are 
under cultivation and he also has a great deal 
of stock. He has met with some reverses in his 
farming operations, especially during the 
grasshopper raids, when he lost all the wheat 
on eighty acres except sixty bushels. He 
says he saved some oats that year, but " there 
were more grasshopper legs than grain." 
Mr. Blomberg has taken an active interest 
in all public matters and has held many local 
offices, including the following: School 
clerk, ever since he came hei'e; county com- 
missioner, now serving his second term ; was 
chairman of supervisors one term ; town clerk 
two years ; and was assessor four terms. He 
is the present secretary of the Insurance 
Company of Acton and Genesee, which in- 
cludes twenty-five townships in Meeker and 
Kandiyohi counties. The company was or- 
ganized in 1S84 and now has a membership 
of about 600, and is carrying risks to the 
amount of about $800,000. 

Mr. Blomberg was married, by a justice in 
the town of Acton, in the house where the 
Indians killed the first wiiites in Meeker 
county, inaugurating the terrible outbreak of 
1862. The marriage occurred on the 25th of 
Se])tember, 1869, with Miss Lena M. Peter- 
son, who was born July 7, 1842. They have 
been blessed witii the following children — 
Charles E., born May 26, 1870, died February 
€, 1878 ; Anna Christina, born July 14, 1871; 
Emily Catharine, born June 30, 1873; Ida 
Victoria, born September 1, 1875 ; Victor 
Emanuel, born January 5, 1877 ; Alice Char- 
lotte, born August 27, 1880, died March 21, 
1881 ; Claus Edward, born February 4, 188:i ; 
Peter Eugene, born February 27, 1885 ; and 
Hattie Maria, born Noveml^er 24, 1887. 



JAMES MC CARNEY, a well-known and 
highly respected farmer, residing on 
section 4, Harvey townsiiip, comes of a 



nationality, which through their natural 
thrift, enterprise and frugality', now form one 
of the most substantial and desirable elements 
in Minnesota's population. 

Mr. McCarney was born in Ireland, and is 
a son of Patrick and Catherine (Brady) 
McCarney. He spent his early life in the 
land of his birth, and on March 1, 1846, he 
sailed for the United States, landing at New 
Orleans on the 7th of May, and proceeding 
from there to Galena, 111. He remained 
there for five years, and then came to Min- 
nesota and settled at St. Paul, where he spent 
about three years. His next move was to 
Dakota county, where he settled upon a farm 
in Burnsville township. There he was living 
when the civil war broke out, and in response 
to the President's call for men, he enhsted on 
December 24, 1862, in Company M, First 
Minnesota Mounted Rangers. He remained 
in the service until August 16, 1863, when 
he was discharged for disability, and re- 
turned to his farm in Burnsville, Dakota 
county, Minn. Three years later he came 
to Meeker county, Minn., and after spending 
the winter with his brother, Patrick, who 
was living in Manannah township, he settled 
on the farm where he still resides, on section 
4, Harvey townshij-). This was in the spring 
of 1867. 

In May, 1850, Mr. McCarney was married 
to Miss Margary McGinlay. Tliey are the 
parents of ten children, eight of whom are 
still living. Mr. and Mrs. McCarney are 
members of the Catholic church. In politi- 
cal matters, Mr. McCarney affiliates with 
the democratic party. 



^ V' '1 



«^- 



AMES DIEAREY, a leading and represent- 
ative farmer of Darwin township, has 
his residence on section 10, where he carries 
on the pursuit of mixed agriculture. He was 
born in County Monaghan, Ireland, March 
9, 1835, but when but eight years of age, in 



2'o6 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



1843, came to the United States with his 
parents, who were, also, natives of the Em- 
erald Isle. The family remained in New 
York, where they at first located, about a year; 
and then removed to Philadelphia, Penn., 
where the subject of this narrative grew to 
manhood. October 15, 1855, he came to 
Minnesota, locating in Minneapolis, where 
he remained a year and then removed to 
Monticello, Wright county, where he made 
his home for the succeeding four years. In 
1860 he came to Meeker county and made a 
settlem-ent in Darwin township on the land 
where he now resides, and has been identi- 
fied with the growth and development of 
that part of the county e^?er since. 

At the time of the Indian outbreak he 
was livmo: on his fann in Darwin, working 
south of the house, and the next day re- 
moved to Kingston, where he remained until 
after the attack on Forest City, when he 
returned to his farm. He in company with 
his fatlier and brother-in-law, Timothy Dunn, 
cut loo})holes in his cabin and tletermined to 
stand and make a strong defense if attacked. 
They had seven guns and plenty of ammu- 
nition, and felt confident of themselves. He 
remained here until December 1, 1863, when 
he enlisted in Company D, Second Minne- 
sota Cavalry. After serving against the In- 
dians in Montana, he was discharged Decem- 
ber 2, 1865, and returned to his home. 

Mr. Dearey was united in marriage, with 
Miss Hannah Roberts, who bore him two 
children — John E., and Mary A., both of 
whom are living. July 7, 1877, the death 
angel entered the little household and bore 
from the bereaved husband, his loved com- 
panion, and from her little ones their best 
friend, their mother. 

Mr. Dearey is independent in his politics, 
and a most excellent citizen. He is a mem- 
ber of Frank Daggett Post, G. A. R., of 
Litchfield, and religiously is attached to the 
Roman Catholic Church. 



#EORGE H. CHAPMAN, harness deal- 
er, and one of Litch field's substantial 
business men, is a native of Birmingham, 
England, born January 27, 1844, but came to 
the United States in July, 1856. His par- 
ents were John and Susan (Crump) Chap- 
man. His father, John Chapman, first came 
to America in 1848, and later took up gov- 
ernment land where Portage City now stands. 
He lived for a year or so at Fort Winnebago, 
Jefl' Davis at that time being one of the 
commanding officers of tiie fort. On his 
first trip Mr. Chapman had brought with liira 
one son and a daughter, and, after his first 
few years in the new world, he decided to 
locate at Mt. Morris, Waushara county. Wis. 
He accordingly sent for the balance of his 
family, who arrived in July, 1856, as stated. 
John Chapman was a tailor by trade, and he 
followed that in Wisconsin until the spring 
of 1857, when he again took up his westward 
march, and, taking with him a stock of 
goods, he started for Nebraska. He went 
by the way of St. Louis, and took a boat up 
the Missouri river, but the boat foundered 
and Mr. Chapman lost all he had. He re- 
mained in Nebraska about four yeai-s, when 
he returned to Berlin, Wis., where the fam- 
ily had been living in the meantime. His 
death occurred at Berlin in about the year 
1866. 

George II. Chapman remained with his 
father's family until he had reached the age 
of fifteen, when he began life on his own 
account, and began learning the harness-ma- 
ker's trade at Berlin, Wis. He remained at 
that until November, 1861, when he enlisted 
in Company H, Eighteenth Wisconsin In- 
fantry, for three years' service. A short 
time later he was transferred to Company C, 
Thirty-Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, and re- 
mained with that regiment until the close of 
the war. His first battle was that of Shiloh, 
in April, 1862, and he afterward participated 
in the battles of Corinth, Miss., in June, 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



207 



1862; Cold Harbor, Va., in May, 1864; in 
front of Petersburg, June 16, ISGA; Weldon 
Railroad, Va., in August, 1864; Pebel's farm, 
in September, 1864 ; again at Petersburg, dur- 
ino; the winter of 1864-5 ; and' was in the 
final charge on Sunday, April 2, 1865, being 
with the brigade that captured Ft. Mahone 
and followed Lee up the south side of the 
railroad. He was near Appomattox at the 
surrender of Lee. During all of his eventful 
and active service Mr. Chapman was neither 
wounded nor taken prisoner, and was only 
in the hospital for a few days. He was on 
guard at Washington during the trial of the 
conspirators against Lincoln, and saw the 
gallows where they were executed and the 
graves of the criminals. He was finally 
mustered out in August, 1865, and returned 
to the old home in Berlin, Wis. In 1867 he 
Settled at Rochester, Minn., and a few years 
later removed to Wabasha, where he lived 
for a time, and then decided to come to 
Litchfield, Meeker county, and accordingly, 
in May, 1870, he opened the harness and 
saddleiy business, which he has successfully 
carried on ever since. Mr. Chapman is an 
active member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, and was one of the charter mem- 
bers of Frank Daggett Post, in which he has 
almost constantly held some office since its 
organization. He was also a charter mem- 
ber of the Ancient Order of United Work- 
men at Litchfield, and has held at different 
times all the offices in the gift of the local 
lodge. In political matters he is a staunch 
re])ublican, and cast his first vote for Abra- 
ham Lincoln for President,while a soldier. 

Mr. Chapman was married on the 2d of 
December, 1868, to Miss Ellen Agnew, of 
Preston, Fillmore Co., Minn. Mr. and Mrs. 
Chapman are the parents of seven children, 
as follows — Emma Glencora Susan, born 
September 23, 1870, died January 2,1887; 
Leslie H., born July 14, 1872; Sybal May, 
born November 9, 1874, died March 24, 1881 ; 



Bessie Pearl, born January 30, 1877; Lillian 
G., born September 14, 1879 ; George Wal- 
ter, born February 22, 1884; and Willie 
Royal, born March 5, 1888. 

Our subject and his estimable wife are 
devout and zealous members of the Episco- 
pal Church, and exemplary Christian people. 



-^-I 



-^- 



OHN PALM, the junior member of the 
igi; firm of Cairncross & Palm, of Litch- 
field, is a native of Sweden, born on October 
1, 1860. He remained in Sweden until 
1870, when he came to America with his 
father's family, the father having the year 
before settled at Litchfield. 

John Palm remained with his parents until 
thirteen or fourteen years of age, when he 
began to work as a painter, and followed 
that four summers, attending school dur- 
ing the winter months. In 1878 he en- 
tered the store of Cairncross & Johnson as 
clerk and remained with Mr. Cairncross after 
that gentleman had bought out his partner, 
and finally on the 1st of January, 1885, Mr. 
Palm was admitted to partnership, and the 
firm became Cairncross & Palm. 

Mr. Palm is a shrewd and careful business 
man, and his manner of conducting the af- 
fairs of the firm have deservedly won them 
an extensive trade. 



"OHN PAULSON is one of the old resi- 
dents of Swede Grove township. He, 
like a majority of the citizens of his town- 
ship, is a native of Sweden, and was born on 
the 14th of July, 1833. His parents' names 
were Paul and Ingra (Olson) Johnson. 

John Paulson came to the United States 
in 1869, and came direct to Meeker county, 
Minn., and, purchasing eighty acres of land 
on section 28, Swede Grove township, he 



208 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



began his life in the new world on the place 
where he still lives. He was married before 
leaving Sweden to Miss Betsey Nelson. Mrs. 
Paulson was the mother of si.x children, as 
follows — Ellen, l)orn May 28, 1865, is mar- 
ried to John Anderberg, and now lives in 
Grove City; Hannah, born March 12,1868; 
Anna, born August 8, 1869; Nels, born May 
4, 1870, and died September 1, 1883 ; Lillie, 
born June 14-, 1872, and died February 18, 
1873 ; and Henry, born June 4, 1871. The 
mother of these children died on March 28, 
1876. 

Mr. Paulson's second marriage was witli 
Miss Hannah Jeppeson, a daughter of Nels 
and Malinda Jeppeson. -Her father died in 
Sweden, and her mother is now a resident of 
Meeker county. Mrs. Paulson has been the 
mother of the following children — Nels, born 
November 5, 1875 ; Oscar, born January 17, 
1878, and died June 18, 1879; Edward, born 
ISToveraber 22, 1879; Molly, born May 15, 
1882; Ella, born June 24, 1884; and Lillie, 
born May 9, 1886. By thrift and economy 
Mr. Paulson lias accumulated a comfortable 
home ; he has a good farm, and has gathered 
considerable stock aljout liim. 

M UGUST T. KOERNER, real estate and 
J^^ loan agent, is one of Litchfield's most 
prominent citizens. He is a native of Ger- 
many, born July 7, 1843. He remained in 
his native country until fourteen years of 
age when he started for this country, ]irac- 
tically alone, and made his way to Ste. Gene- 
vieve, Mo., wiiere a sister was then living. 
Until the fall of 1860 he made his home with 
his sister, and then went to Vernon, Ind., for 
the purpose of learning the millers' business. 
He remained at his trade until April, 1861, 
Avhen he enlisted for ninety days' service in 
Company H, Sixth Indiana Volunteers, being 
then three months short of eighteen years of 
age. After the term of enlistment expired 



he reenlisted for three years in Company H, 
Twenty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. 
In the spring of 1864 he veteranized and 
served until the close of the war. His serv- 
ice covered* a period of four years and 
three months, the time being spent in West 
Virginia, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, 
Louisiana, Texas and Alabama. He was 
wounded in the left arm by a minie ball at the 
battle of Prairie Grove ; was all through the 
siege of Vicksburg, and in all, participated in 
seventeen battles. After the close of the war 
he located at Troy, III., where he was em- 
ployed at book-keeping for Throp & Co., 
merchant millers. During his residence at 
that point he made his first trip to Meeker 
county in August, 1865, and while here was 
married to Miss Katie McGannon, after which 
event he returned to Troy. In 1867 he again 
came to Meeker count}^ Minn., this time to 
stay, and settled upon a farm on section 2, 
Greenleaf township. 

There he remained for two years, and then 
gave up the farm and made several trijjs to 
Illinois. In the spring of 1873 he again moved 
onto the farm, and, after losing three suc- 
cessive crops from grasshoj)pers and hail, gave 
it up and removed to Litchfield. For two 
yeai-s thereafter he was engaged at clerical 
work, and in 1877 was elected register of 
deeds of Meeker county. He was twice re- 
elected and therefore served three successive 
terms. Dui'ing this time he opened a real 
estate office, and since the expiration of his 
term of office has devoted his whole attention 
to his real estate, loan and insurance business. 

In 1877, in company with N. A. Viren and 
P. Ekstrom, Mr. Koerner opened the first set 
of abstract books in Meeker county. Mr. 
Koerner has taken an active interest in all 
matters affecting the welfare of his home, 
and during his residence here has almost con- 
stantly held some public position of trust and 
responsibility. He Avas one of the charter 
members of the Frank Daggett Post of the 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



209 



Grand Army of the Eepublic, and has taken 
a prominent part in its history. He is a 
Mason, being a member of Golden Fleece 
Lodge, No. 89, Rabboni Chapter, No. 37, and 
Melita Commandery, No. 17, and has held 
various offices in each organization, tilling all 
positions with credit to himself and honor to 
the fraternity. Mr. Koerner and wife, with 
their family, are members of the Christian 
church. Their family consists of three chil- 
dren — Mamie, Carney and Pauline — all of 
whom are living at home. They have lost 
three children by death. 



-^^ 



^^AMUEL COSSAIRT, the managing 
"^^^ partner of the general merchandise 
firm of S. Cossairt & Co., and one of the 
most active, enterprising, energetic business 
men of Eden Valley, is a native of Vermilion 
county, 111., born February 12, 186:3, and is 
the son of Silas and Alvira (Swisher) Cos- 
sairt. In 1866 his parents and others of the 
family came to that part of Meeker county 
lying in the vicinity of Eden Valley, and 
settled here , the pioneers of this region, as 
there were no neighbors between them and 
Manannah or Forest City. The parents of 
our subject still live upon the original home- 
stead. 

Samuel was reared upon the parental 
farm and remained beneath his father's roof 
until he had attained the age of eighteen 
years, drawing liis primary education from 
the district schools of the vicinity. In 1881 
he commenced attendance at the Normal 
school at St. Cloud, Minn., where he remained 
about a year and a half, and for the succeed- 
ing three years was occupied in teaching 
school, in which he made quite a success. At 
the age of twenty-three he, in company with 
E. L. Parker, opened a store in the village of 
Litchfield. Three months later the firm 
started a branch at Eden Valley, of which 



our subject took charge, and operated until 
March, 1888, when, having purchased the 
interest of his partner, a new firm was formed, 
consisting of Samuel Cossairt, his father, 
Silas, and brother G. B. Cossairt. They car- 
ry an extensive stock of all the various lines 
that go to make up an establishment of this 
kind and are doing an ample business. 

In October, 1886, the subject of this 
memoir was apjiointed postmaster of Eden 
Lake, and when the office was changed to 
Eden Valley was reappointed and now holds 
that oflBce. 



This gentle- 



HARLES MANGUSON. 
^ man is a thrifty and respected farmer 
who resides on section 33, Litchfield town- 
ship. He is a native of Sweden, born on the 
3d of February, 1834, and a son of Magnus 
and Katrina Nelson. When he was seven- 
teen years of age he enlisted in the Swedish 
Artillery and served about two years, when 
he received his discharge on account of an 
injury received in cannon practice. In 1857 
he came to the United States and after 
living about three years in Chisago and 
Kandiyohi counties, he settled in Meeker 
county. In the spring of 1862, he was 
married to Mrs. Anna Colberg, widow of Nels 
Colberg (deceased), and they settled on a 
farm near Lake Harold, where he was living 
when the Indian outbreak began. Upon 



began. 

receiving the warning he started with his 
family for Forest City, but when they had 
arrived within two and a half miles of that 
place, darkness came on and a terrific rain 
storm set in. From necessity, therefore, he 
and his wife and their four children slept all 
night on the prairie in the beating and drench- 
ing rain. The next day they got to Forest City, 
and after remaining there and at Kingston 
for several days they went to Anoka and 
made that their home for two years. In the 
fall of 1864, Mr. Manguson moved back to 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Meeker county and took u]) a homestead 
near the present site of Litclilield village, 
and after living there for six years traded 
the homestead for his jiresent farm on 
section 33. In 1870 his first wife died. In 
1872 he was married to Siso Swanson, who 
■was born in Sweden November 29, 1831, and 
who came to the United States in 1S71. By 
this marriage they have had four children — 
Johanna, William, Mathilda (deceased), 
and Mathilda. 



OHN E. DIME, fanner, of Swede Grove 
township, is a native of Sweden, born 
J^ovember 13, 1842, and a son of Carl and 
Catharina (Born Janson) Anderson. He 
came to the United States in 18C)8, and first 
stopped at Ishpeming, Marquette county, 
Mich., where he worked in the iron mines 
until the spring of 1884, when he came to 
Swede Grove township, Meeker county, 
Minn., and purchased 160 acres of land on 
section 32, where he has since lived. 

Mr. Dime was married on November 15, 
1873, to Miss Johanna Johnson, and the 
couple have been blessed with the following- 
named children — Erick Adolphus, who was 
born August 16, 1874; Samuel Edward, 
born October 17, 1876; Hannah Elizabeth, 
born July 31, 1880 ; Ernst W., born October 
10, 1883 (died same day); and Oscar Em- 
anuel, born Feljruary 18, 1886. Mr. Dime's 
sister is married to John J. Berg, a resident 
of Pope county, Minn. Mr. Dime has been 
very successful since coming to this country, 
as he was so poor when he left the old coun- 
try that he was obliged to borrow money 
to pay his passage. He now has a good 
farm and a comfortable home, while in the 
way of stock he already has a good start. 

While Mr. Dime was not here at tlie time 
of the Indian massacre, so as to have an ex- 
perience in the war against them, neverthe- 
less he has his adventures to relate from the 



mines wlien his life was endangered, and he 
had some narrow escapes. One instance, 
when a part of the Lake Shore Iron Mining 
Company's mine caved in, filling up Mr. 
Dime's woi'king place with 22.000 tons of 
rock, he had to run for his life, while the rocks 
rolled in after him. Another time he had a very 
narrow escape from a falling rock from the 
back of a tunnel where he kept his tools; 
he was engaged in looking over the tools, 
when a solid block, one and one-half tons in 
weight, fell down close to his side, touch- 
ing his clothes, but not hurting him in the 
least. Another time his tender dropped the 
contents of a smoking pipe right in the hole 
on the naked powder, when he (Dime) was 
charging up for a blast, but God, the 
Almighty, led the fire so as not to come in 
contact with the powder, and no accident 
happened. 

Still another time, God, who leads the fates 
of men, kept his hand between, when he went 
back after due time after blasting, to find out 
the cause of a missing hole. He stepped right 
up to the missed blast, touched the fuse with 
his hands, but suspecting something wrong 
went out of the pit, going well out of danger. 
The blast exploded, throwing the rocks after 
him, and he had great cause to thank God 
for his deliverance. 



•■«»-J^^' 



lATRICK F. ARMSTRONG, a well- 
p*-" known and substantial farmer and stock- 
raiser, residing on section 28, Harvey town- 
ship, is an old settler who has done his share 
toward the development of Meeker county's 
resources. 

Mr. Armstrong is a native of Prince Ed- 
wards Island, Canada, and was born on the 
16th of March, 1846. Before Patrick was a 
year old, his j)arents removed to the United 
States and settled in Will county, 111., where 
they remained for ten yeare, and then came to 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Meeker county, Minn., and settled in Harvej'^ 
township, where our subject still resides. 
The parents, whose names were William and 
Teressa Armstrong, were both natives of 
Ireland. AVhen they came to Meeker county 
the family consisted of the father and motlier, 
four boys and two girls. The father and 
mother are now living in Mannanah township. 

Patrick learned the cooper's trade and fol- 
lowed that for six years w^lien he was a 
young man ; he also followed railroad work 
for two years, but the balance of his life has 
been spent in tilling the soil. He was mar- 
ried December 2, 1879, to Miss Anna Corri- 
gan, and they are the parents of four chil- 
dren, ^vhose names are as follows: Michael, 
Thomas, Arthur and Patrick. Mrs. Arm- 
strong's parents are also natives of Ireland ; 
they are now living in Harvey township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are devout mem- 
bers and active supporters of the Catholic 
church. His political principles are demo- 
cratic. 

Like all the old settlers, their farming 
operations were interrupted and abandoned 
at the time of the Indian outbreak. At the 
time of the massacre at Acton, in August, 
1862, Patrick Armstrong was at Empire City, 
south of St. Paul. Hearing of the Indian 
depredations, he at once started for home to 
learn whether or not they had ail been killed. 
He found them at Forest City, all well, and 
on their way to Minneai)olis, so he went with 
them to that place. They lived in Minneap- 
olis until 1866, when they returned to Har- 
vey township, where Patrick F. Armstrong 
has since lived. 






•^"^^^►-^►> 



ij^HARLES H. STROBECK, the present 
'^^^ probate judge of Meeker county, is a 
native of West Parishville, St. Lawrence 
county, N. Y., born October 8, 1841, and is 
the son of Henry and Fannie M. (Willis) 



Strobeck, natives of the Empire State and 
New Hampshire, respectively. The father 
was originally of Wurtemberg stock, and the 
mother's ancestors were among the Puritan 
pilgrims of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 
The fatiier died at Litchfield, Meeker county, 
December 17, 1887, having come to this place 
the summer previous. The mother is still 
living witli her son. The judge was reared 
and received his primary education in the 
county of his birth, assisting his father in the 
labors attendant upon farm life until he was 
some nineteen years of age. At that time 
he entered the St. Lawrence Academy, where 
he remained during the spring and fall terms 
from 1860 to 1863, teaching school during 
the winters. During the winter of 1863-4, 
he took the place of the professor in the 
mathematical department of the same acad- 
emy, and filled the post creditably. 

On leaving school, he entered the law 
office of Judge Henry L. Knowles, as a stu- 
dent and clerk, where he remained until 
October, 1865, when he was admitted to the 
bar in a class of fourteen, at a session of the 
Supreme Com-t of New York, at Canton, the 
county seat of St. Lawrence county. A bout 
the 1st of December, the same year, Mr. 
Strobeck came west to Chicago, and from 
there to Ked Wing, Minn., where he located, 
and commenced the practice of law. and 
wrote fire insurance until coming to Litch 
field. The latter branch of the business was 
carried on in partnership with W.C.Williston. 

October 22, 1869, Mr. Strobeck came to 
Litchfield and made up his mind to locate in 
the place, then in embrj'o, as there was only 
a few buildings erected at that time. He 
put up an office, being the pioneer attorney 
of the city, and has remained in practice here 
ever since. The judge is a staunch republican 
but has had but little political aspirations. He 
has held several local offices in the govern- 
ment of the village and in educational mat- 
ters, prominent among which was that of 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIA'XESOTA. 



prosecuting attorney. In the fall of 1880 he 
■was elected to tiie responsihie position of 
Probate judge, which ho still holds. 

On the 24th of February, 1873, Ciiarles H. 
Strobeck antl Miss Carrie E. Phelps were 
united in marriage. The lady is a native of 
Oaivland county, Mich., and daughter of 
William and Carrie (James) Phelps, the 
latter natives of the Empire State. B3' this 
union there have been two children — Alice J, 
and Henry. 

eludge Strobeck is a man ol sterling integ- 
rity, and having a mind of his own, has 
strong feelinffs in regard to what he conceives 
to be ri^ht or wrone:, and what is more, 
dares to maintain them. 



-«-; 



v-^> 



PETER K. BROWN, who is one of the 
leading and influential farmers of 
Acton township, has had an eventful and 
varied life. He was a son of Knute and Eliza 
Jirown and was born in Denmark on the 8th 
of October, 1834. When he had arrived at 
the age of twenty-four, thinking to benefit 
his financial condition he started for the 
gold fields of Australia, and after 101 days of 
sailing he landed at Melbourne, and was 
soon hard at work in the mines. He re- 
mained there for seven years, and endured 
much more hardship and suffering than falls 
to the lot of mankind generally. At one 
time he had neither money nor provisions, 
and after a siege of fasting, which nearly 
resulted in starvation, he was fortunate 
enough to find gold with which he purchased 
something to eat. He underwent many other 
experiences which were fully as trying, but 
still he pei-severed. At times, however, he 
would enjoy a run of luck, and at one time 
he had about $2,000 in his possession, but he 
managed to leave with about $500 in his 
pocket. He then returned to Denmark, 
stopping at London, England, for a few days 



while on the way home. He then remained 
in Denmark for about two years, and on the 
17th of April, 1868, he started for the United 
States ami landed at New York, during the 
latter part of May. He proceeded at once 
to Kandiyohi county, Minn., where his 
brother, N. K. Brown was living. A year 
later he moved to the farm in Acton town- 
ship on which he still lives, having purchased 
railroad land. As he had learned the car- 
penter's trade in the old countr\', he erected 
his own buildings, which are located on sec- 
tion 29. He has excellent improvements, 
and now owns 250 acres of land, a good 
share of which is under cultivation. Mr. 
Brown's mother is dead and his father 
lives with a brother, N. K. Brown, in Kandi- 
yohi county. There are several other mem- 
bers of the family living in the United 
States, including R. K. Brown, of Acton ; 
John K. Brown, of Danielson ; and Karen, 
now Mi's. Paul Nelson, of Danielson; besides 
N. K. Brown, of Kandiyohi county. 

Peter K. Brown has taken a prominent 
and active part in all public matters, and has 
held many offices of a local but at the same 
time important character, including those of 
town clerk two years, chairman of super- 
visors two years, assessor one 3'ear ; and was 
elected justice of the peace but did not 
qualify. 

Mr. Brown was married, during the year 
1870, to Bertha Margrethe Madson, and 
they have been blessed with the following 
children — Mads Peter, born March 21, 1871; 
Albert Knuteson, born July 21,1873; Jo- 
hanes, born June 13, 1875; Elizze Marie, 
born April 30, 1877; and Nels Christian, 
born April 25, 1879. 



•^^^►-4- 



EWIS LARSON, of Litchfield, is a mem- 
ber of the firm of Nelson, Johnson 
& Larson, dealers in general merchandise. 
Mr. Larson was born in Sweden in 1842, and 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



215 



remained in tlie "Fatherland" until about 
twenty-seven years of age. His father died 
when Lewis was three and his mother when 
he was fifteen, so he was left to care for him- 
self. He had up to that time attended school 
regularly and had attained a good education. 
"When about twenty years old he entered 
a civil office, corresponding with the office 
of sheriff in this country, and he remained 
in this for six years. After this he went to 
Gottenberg and for a short time was engaged 
in business at that place but he finally sold out 
and came to Ameiica, locating in Wisconsin. 
At that time he could speak and understand 
very little English, and for one year he lived 
with an American family for tiie jnirpose of 
acquiring it, finally becoming very profi- 
cient. On the 31st of Decern l^er, 1870, he 
arrived in Litchfield, and entered the store 
of Nelson Brothers as a clerk a short time 
later. In the summer of 1872 he went to 
Willmar and was there emj)loyed as a clerk 
in the store of Spicer & Larson for about 
three years and a half. Then, in company 
with W. Paulson, under the firm name of 
Paulson & Larson, they went into the gen 
eral merchandise trade at Willmar. In 1880 
Mr. Larson sold his interest to his partner 
and removed to Litchfield, and the present 
mercantile firm of Nelson, Johnson & Lar- 
son was formed. Mr. Larson is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity, having joinetl Golden 
Fleece Lodge, No. 89, in 1888. 



PROMINENT farmer and stock-raiser 
']^S^ residing on section 11, Cedar Mills 
township, is R. A. AVheeler, a veteran of the 
late civil war, and one of the leading citi- 
zens in the southern part of the county. 

Mr. Wheeler' is a native of Bangor, Me., 
born on the 25th of May, 184-1, and is a son 
of Isaac and Martha (Norcross) Wheeler. 
His parents were old settlers in Cedar Mills 
township, and their history will be found 



in another department of this work. Reuben 
A. Wheeler, the subject of this sketch, re- 
mained with his parents (coming with them 
meanwhile to Wright county, Minn.,) until 
October, 1861, when he enlisted in Company 
D, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. 
He remained in the service until July, 1865, 
and probaldy saw more actual active war ser- 
vice than any ex-soldier who to-day resides 
in Meeker county. He participated in the 
first and second battlesat Corinth. luka, Siege 
of Vicksburg, where he was wounded in the 
head by a piece of a shell, Altoona Pass. 
Savannah, Ga., and was with Sherman in 
his famous March to the Sea. He then, with 
Sherman's army, went to Washington and 
participated in the grand review. After re- 
ceiving an honorable discharge from the serv- 
ice he came to Meeker county, Minn., arriving 
in July, 1865. He at once located on a soldier's 
homestead, which his father, Isaac Wheeler, 
had selected for him in 1863, which was 
located on section 11, Cedar Mills township, 
where he now lives. lie at once began 
improving his place, and erected a log-cabin, 
covering it with a hay roof. Mr. AVheeler 
remained on his place most of the time until 
1867, when he went to Green Lake, Kandi- 
yohi county. Three years later he went to 
Montana, but a short time later he returned 
to his homestead in Cedar Mills township, 
where he has since lived. He devotes his 
attention to general farming and stock-rais- 
ing, and is one of the most prominent and 
best-known citizens of the township in which 
he lives. He is a prominent member of the 
Frank Daggett Post, No. 35, Grand Army of 
the Republic, of Litchfield. 

Mr. W^heeler was married on the 11th of 
November, 1866, to Miss Malvina Nichols, 
who was born in Racine county, Wis. Their 
marriage has been blessed with six children, 
as follows — Martha M., George R., Frank E., 
Harlan M., Ray M., and Mary P. The fam- 
ily are members of the Presbyterian church. 



21(3 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Mi. WELL-KNOWN businessman of Litch- 
Jj^"^^ field is A. C. Johnson, a member of 
tliefirmof Nelson, Johnson & Larson, gen- 
eral merchants. He is a native of Sweden, 
and was born in 1S5L 

"When eleven years of age, he started with 
his grandparents and his uncle, B. P. Kel- 
son, for America, intending to come direct to 
Meeker county, Minn., where Andrew, a 
brother of Mr. Nelson, was then living. They 
crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel, being 
ten weeks on the way, arriving at Boston 
about August 20, 1862. There they learned 
of the terrible outbreak of the Indians in 
this country, but continued on their journey, 
coming as far as St. Paul, where they decided 
to remain for a time. Mr. Johnson remained 
there until 1871, when he removed to Litch- 
field and entered the store of Nelson Broth- 
ers as a clerk, and remained with them until 
they sold out to Alex. Cairncross. lie was 
then with the latter gentleman for about two 
years and a half. At the end of that time, 
he, in company with Stephen Cairncross, a 
brother clerk, bought out the establishment 
and went into business for themselves, under 
the firm name of Cairncross & Johnson. 
This firm continued in business for about two 
years and a half, when the stock was sold 
out. In 18S0, the present firm of Nelson, 
Johnson & Larson was formed. The other 
members of the firm are B. P. Nelson and 
Lewis Larson, and the business they do is 
probably the largest done in tiie village, in 
their line. They carry a full stock of dry 
goods, groceries, etc., and cater to the tastes 
of everybody. They are among the bright- 
est business men of the village, and are in 
splendid financial condition. 



•««: 



—^^ 



JJEpROMINENT among the old settlers is 
_fj*~ is A. M. Caswell, who now resides in 
the village of Litch'ield. He was born in 
Melbourne, Canada, October 2, 1833. His 



father, Moody Caswell, was born in Vermont, 
and his mother, Hannah (Bishop) Caswell, in 
New Hampshire. They lived in Canada un- 
td he was past seventeen and then moved to 
Vermont, and fi'om there to New Hamp- 
shire, and came to Minnesota in April, 1856. 
They came to Dunleath, 111., by rail and 
thence uj) the Mississippi on the old steamer 
"War Eagle." There were about 700 pas- 
sengers on board, generally in high spirits 
about the prospects in the Territory of Min- 
nesota, where the land was rich and money 
plenty. They landed at St. Paul and then 
took the stage to St. Anthonj\ There was 
only a few houses there then and one saw- 
mill ; from there they came by steamboat up 
the river to Monticello, where they stopped 
until about the 1st of June, and then, hear- 
ing of the great chance for getting land on 
the big prairie in Meeker count}', and as 
there was a party of immigrants came along, 
A. M. Caswell followed, and camped the first 
night alone in tiie woods about midway be- 
tween Monticello and Kingston. The next 
morning he came up with Patch's company, 
and camped on the bank of Crow river. 
The water was high, and as there was no 
bridge, they had to make a raft of logs. 
After crossing the river the company scat- 
tered, hunting claims. Our subject traveled 
to Forest City and took dinner with Thomas 
Skinner, a whole-souled and public-spirited 
gentleman, always courteous and obliging to 
everybody, in whose death Meeker lost one 
of her best men. From there he started 
with two others to look for claims, and trav- 
eled over the level prairie of Harvey, but 
found it generally marked, as a ])arty had 
been through there and marked claims for 
all their relatives, some which were yet in 
the old country', so he left that and went 
above the woods in the vicinity of Manan- 
nah, and there the claims were vacant, and 
he marked his claim — the first one marked 
in the townshiji — and then returned to Mon- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



217 



ticello. He was boarding at a hotel, when a 
party came, who had been through to the 
big prairie, among tiie party being T. C. 
Jewett and Captain A. D. Pierce, an old 
sea captain from Cape Cod, Mass., who said 
he had been up above Forrest City and 
located a town site. He gave glowing ac- 
comits of the country and said there was only 
one claim marked there and that was just 
the one he wanted to build his town on, and 
he was going to have it. He also said that 
he camped on the liighest hill there was near 
there, (which must have been Tower Hill) 
and fought mosquitoes all night, and he fore- 
saw the great events of the near future ; the 
network of railroads that would come to 
and through his town. He took out his 
book and read the name tiiat he found on 
his claim, as he called it, and it hap])ened to 
be Mr. Caswell's; he afterward tried to scare 
Mr. C. off, but failing to do it, he bought 
him off b}' paying fifty dollars and a watch. 
He afterward stated that the trade was like 
a horse-trade, and he was mighty sick of the 
horse. Mr. Caswell then made another claim 
where F. F. Phillips now lives, and his 
brother, Albert, came on and took one ad- 
joining, and his father, mother and sisters 
came the next fall. His mother was afflicted 
with a rose cancer, and after having it cut 
out died within a year, being the first woman 
buried in Manannah grave-yard. 

But the flush times of 1856 were followed 
by several years of dearth, or almost a famine. 
There was no money in the country and 
scarcely any provisions, and for two or 
three years a laboring man could get neither 
money, clothing nor provisions for his work. 
The only way to get money was to hunt or 
trap for fur, which was hard-earned money. 
So, getting tired out or starved out, at 
Manannah, his brother, Albert, and himself, 
and Ziba and Nathan Caswell started out 
for the gold mines at Pike's Peak, in Colo- 
rado, and were gone from the State most of 



the time until after the Indian war. Our 
subject was at work in the mines in Colorado, 
and his brother and Ziba Caswell were in 
Nevada in the Washoe silver mines. They 
heard of the Indian war and started for 
home, and although they were two thousand 
miles apart when they started and neither 
party knew when the other was going to 
start, they met in Minneapolis and came home 
on the stage together. 

The next spring A. M. Caswell was mar- 
ried to Vesta J. Britt, of the town of Har- 
vey. They kept a hotel at Coon Creek one 
year, then sold out and went to Anoka, where 
they remained about three years. They then 
sold out and moved to Harvey township, 
where they lived until removing to Litchfield 
in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Caswell have two 
children — one a young man, twenty four 
years old, and a daughter about eight 

In speaking of the "old times" Mr. Cas- 
well says : " When I came to this county, 
there had never been a bushel of wheat, corn 
or potatoes raised here. Now nearly every 
acre of prairie and thousands of acres of 
brush and tiinbei' land are under cultivation, 
, and thousands of reaping and threshing ma- 
chines are kept busy, instead of the old down 
reaper that took four horses, two men and a 
bov to operate, the grain having to be raked 
off by hand, and much of it left scattered on 
the ground. We have a machine that three 
horses and one man manage easily and which 
leaves the grain tied up in neat bundles, 
leaving- the field clean as if it hail l^een 
gleaned by the gleaners of old times. But the 
young men that were vigorous and strong 
and active are now becoming okl, bleached 
and gray ; but there is another generation 
coming on to fill our places. I have faith and 
believe there is a bright future for Meeker 
county, and that it is bound to be one of the 
richest and best stock-producing counties in 
the Northwest." 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIXNESOTA. 



J^SAAC WHEELER, who was one of the 
a_ most prominent early settlers in Cedar 
Mills township, is a native of Maine, and was 
born on June 19, 1817. He remained in 
his native State until 1861, when he came to 
Minnesota and located on a farm in Wrif^ht 
county. In xA.pril, 1863, lie came to Meeker 
county, and selected 160 acres of land on 
section 9, Cedar ]\Iills, and the following 
year moved on to it with his family. The\' 
were tlie first settlers west of Cedar Mills 
after the Indian outbreak, and were there 
one season entirely without neighbors. At 
the time they came here the soldiers were 
stationed at Pipe Lake, and they helped Mr. 
Wiieeler cut the logs with -wliich he erected 
his cabin. IVIr. Wheeler remained on tiie 
farm until after his wife's death in 1876, 
when he sold his place to his sons, Frank and 
Newton Wheeler, and since that time has 
lived with his children, going back and 
forth between them. 

After a long and useful career of toil and 
industry, he is now spending the evening of 
his life in a quiet and peaceful way, having 
to the fullest degree the confidence and 
respect of all who know him. 



-^^ 



NDREW J. NELSON, a well-to do and 
'^\^ highh'-respected farmer residing on 
section 22, Union Grove township, is a native 
of Sweden, where he was born on the 2d of 
December, 18.52. His parents' names were 
Nels and Kersten Anderson. The mother 
died when he was only sixteen weeks old, 
and his father died when he was seventeen 
years of age. 

Andrew J. spent his younger days in the 
land of his birth, when he acquired the same 
habits of industry and frugality which are 
characteristic of the race of which he springs. 
In 1880 he sailed for the United States, and 
making his way directly to Meeker county, 



Minn., he rented a farm in Swede Grove 
townsiii]). He remained there for three years 
and then io February, 1884, he removed to 
the farm on section 22, Union Grove town- 
ship, where he still lives. He owns 130 acres 
of land, a good share of which is cleared and 
under cultivation. lie has considerable stock 
and comfortable buildings. When Mr. Nel- 
son came to America his earthly possessions- 
consisted of $1,000 in money, but he lost a 
good share of that in the first two years 
through the failure of crops, but by good 
management and hard work he has recov- 
ered and is now in comfortable circumstances. 
Mr. Nelson was married before leaving- 
Sweden, in 1878, to Miss Ingrid Larson, a 
daughter of Mr. anil Mrs. Lars Nelson, and 
their union has been blessed with three chil- 
dren, as follows — Hilda, born in Sweden, Jan- 
uary 19, 1879 ; Ida, born in Swede Grove 
township, October 18, 1880 ; and Anton, born 
in Union Grove township, July 30, 1884. 
Mrs. Nelson's mother died in 1868, and her 
father is now living with them. 



"OHN B. PENNOYER, a prominent resi- 
dent of the village of Greenleaf, is a 
native of Sherbrook county. Lower Camula, 
born on the 12tli of February, 1832. His 
parents, Truman and Priscdia II. Pennoyer, 
were natives of Vermont, and both were 
born in the year 1804. The mother died in 
1886, but the father is still living, a respected 
resident of Ellsworth township, Meeker 
county. Truman Pennoyer's father was a 
Frenchman, and sailed the seas as a privateer 
during the revolutionary war, subsequently 
settling in Vermont. Truman spent a few 
years in Canada and then returned to Ver- 
mont. P'rom the latter State he removed to 
St. Lawrence county, N. Y., taking the family 
by wagon through the timber over the 
Plattsburg and Ogdensburg ]iike, and 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



219 



through the Chateaugay cedar swamp, to 
Potsdam, and remained there from 1836 to 
1864. He was a cooper by trade, but a 
farmer by occupation 

Truman Pennoyer and wife were the par- 
ents of seven sons and six daughters. The 
three oldest died in infancy, and were buried 
at Compton Center, C. E. Three others died 
in infancy, and two sisters died after they 
were grown. Five of their children are still 
living — J. B. Pennoyer, O. A. Pennoyer, 
H. H. Pennoyer, Mrs. J. M. Howard, of 
Meeker county, Minn., and Mrs. H. F. Pow- 
ers, of Cincinnati, Oiiio. 

John B. Pennoyer, the subject of this mem- 
oir, was reared on a farm, and upon reaching 
the age of twenty-four lie left home and 
started West, He traveled over various por- 
tions of the West, but lived the greater part 
of the time in Whiteside and Jersey coun- 
ties, 111., until 1864, when he came to Meeker 
eounty, Minn., making the journey from 
Hastings on foot. He entered a homestead 
on section 35, in what is now Greenleaf town- 
ship, and continued to reside thereuntil Aug- 
ust, 1885, when he rented his farm and 
started out in search of a locality that would 
benefit his health. After spending the fall 
and winter in Macoupin and Jersey counties, 
111., he went to Huntsvilie, Ala., and remained 
there until Septeml)er 27, 1886, when he 
■came back and took up his residence in the 
village of Greenleaf. 

In tlie month of September following Mr. 
Pennoyer's first arrival in Meeker county, 
1864. he went to Greene county, 111., and was 
married to Mary F. Bilbruck, a daughter of 
John and Charlotte Bilbruck, who was born 
in Nottinghamshire, England, on the 7th of 
December, 1842. Five ciiildren have been 
born to them — Alice Naomi, born July 25, 
1867, died May 8, 1870 ; Charlotte Augusta, 
born December 5, 1870; Francis Irene, born 
October 26, 1875, died April 3, 1879; Har- 
mon Lee, born September 4, 1880 ; and 



Florence Emma, born June 5, 1884. Mr. 
Pennoyer has taken an active interest in all 
public matters and has held various local of- 
fices. In political matters he affiliates with 
the republican party. 

Having been identified with the growth 
and development of Meeker county iluring 
a residence of nearly a quarter of a century, 
he is well-known to all pioneers, and none is 
held in higher esteem. Tiirough his untar- 
nished and unblemished integrity his word is 
recognized as being as good as a bond, and 
he is held in the highest respect by all who 
know him. Hospitable, charitable, and en- 
terprising, aiding whatever entei'prise is cal- 
culated to benefit either town or county in 
which he has lived so long, he has justly 
earned the high reputation which he bears, of 
being one of the most desirable citizens of 
which any locality can boast. 

We take [Jeasure in presenting a portrait 
of Mr. Pennoyer in another department of 
this work. 



I^RANK E. WHEELER. The subject of 
JP' this sketch, a resident of section 9, is 
one of the leading citizens of Cedar Mills 
township, and is a son of Isaac Wheeler, who 
is mentioned above. He is a native of Gar- 
land, Maine, and was born on the 1st of Jan- 
uary, 1851. His early life was spent in his 
native State, and in 1861 he came West with 
his father's family, and they settled in 
Wright county, Minnesota, as has been 
stated. In 1863 they settled in Meeker 
county, and Frank remained at home until 
the death of his mother in 1876, when 
the family was l)roken up and scattered. 
After this Frank taught school in this 
county and also in Wabash county, Indiana, 
following this profession for three years. 
In April, 1881, he settled upon the old 
homestead, and this has since been his home. 
He has a valuable farm of 180 acres, eighty 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



of which are already under cultivation, and all 
of it is in tillable condition. He has made 
substantia! im])rovenients on the place and it 
is conveniently arranged. He devotes his 
time and energies to general farming and 
stock raising, and is I'ated as one of the nK)st 
successful and enteiprisiug agriculturists in 
the township. He has taken an active and 
prominent part in township and educational 
affairs of late years, and has held various 
local offices, including those of supervisor, 
school clerk and others. He has been a 
member of the Presbyterian Church for 
fifteen years. 

Mr. Wheeler was married at Ellsworth, 
March 19, 1879, to Miss .Lucy Porter, of 
Ellsworth township, and they are the parents 
of four children, as follows: Mellen E., 
Ethel E., Ruth C. and Allen K. Mrs. 
Wheeler was born at Greenfield, Wis., July 
9, 1856. 



-♦• 



J^RANK T. PETERSON, of Swede Grove 
_lp2- township, is one of the most extensive 
stock raisers in Meeker county. lie is a son 
of Peter O. and Christine (Hawkinson) 
Peterson. The parents were natives of 
Sweden, who came to the United States in 
1854, and settled in Chisago county, Minn. 
The following is a hst of their children — 
John W., born January 20, 1858 ; Frank T., 
born October 2, 1859 ; Mary C, born March 
14, 1861 ; Christine E., born March 29, 1863 ; 
Oscar F., (deceased) born January 20, 1865 ; 
and Ida ]V[., born May 21, 1867. Mary C. 
married Charles M. Ahlstrom, a resident of 
Harvey township. John W., for the past 
three years, has been engaged in railroad 
contracting, in company with a cousin, John 
G. Lundquist, who has been in the business 
for the last thirteen years. They are now 
building a road near Chicago. Frank T., 
Christine and Ida M. still live at home, 



although the last named, at this writing, is 
in St. Peter, attending college. Frank T. & 
Co. carry on the extensive farming and stock 
raising business; they own 1,200 acres of 
land and have about the finest farm build- 
ings in the western j)art of the county. 

As has been stated, the father settled in 
Chisago county, Minn., in 1854. In 1868 the 
family removed to Swede Grove township, 
Meeker county, settling on section 36, where 
the father died on the 24th of November, 

1886, and where the mother still lives. The 
farm is carried on jointly', being owned in 
thirds by Frank T. and John W. Peterson, 
and their cousin, John G. Lundquist, with 
Frank as manager. They devote sjiecial at- 
tention to raising blooded horses, cattle and 
hogs, and some of the finest stock in the 
State may be seen at their fai'm. They have 
on hand two stallions worthy of special 
notice : Sansonnet, imported by M. W. 
Dunham in 1887; French No. 8,811, Ameri- 
can No. 6,991 ; also Simonneau, French No. 
9,020, American No. 7,108. They have the 
following valuable inares, which were im- 
ported by M. W. Dunham : Poulotte, im- 
ported in 1886, French No. 6677, American 
No. 5614; Valentine, imported in 1884, 
French No. 2778, American No. 3663 ; Lil- 
liane, imported in 1887, French No. 8554, 
American No. 7145 ; Bibi, imported in 

1887, French No. 10248, American No. 
7128. These magnificent animals were 
purchased at a cost of $11,750. In addition 
to these they have many others of high 
grade which are a credit to the county. 

^^ B. BENSON, cashier of the Meeker 
^^^ Bank of Litchfield, was born in St. 
Peter, Nicollet county, Minn., July 2, 1860, 
and is the son of Peter and Malena Benson, 
natives of Sweden, who were engaged in 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



agricultural pursuits in that section of the 
State, having settled there some time in the 
" Forties," among the pioneers of the State. 

The subject of this memoir was reared 
upon the paternal farm, receiving his educa- 
tion in the district schools and remained at 
home until the fall of 1880, when he attended 
a course at the business college at Minnea- 
polis. The following spring he came to 
Litchfield and entered the Meeker County 
Bank as book-keeper, and remained in that 
capacity until July 7, 1884, when he was 
made assistant cashier, and in March, 1885, 
was jiromoted to the post of cashier in tiie 
same monetary institution. He is one of the 
solid young business men of whom Litchfield 
can justly boast, and has a bright and pros- 
perous future before him. 

On the 24th of November, 1887, Mr. Benson 
' led to the hymeneal altar Miss Pauline Fuller, 
one of Meeker county's fairest, brightest 
daughters. She was the child of George W. 
Fuller, the well known horticulturist and 
arboriculturist of Litchfield. The happiness 
of the young couple was, however, of but 
brief duration, the angel of death claiming 
the bride on the 9th of May, 1888, and after a 
brief honeymoon of about five months she 
passed to that land Elysian, whose portals we 
call death, leaving her husband's heart and 
home a desolate waste. 



l&aTANS EVENSON, a successful farmer 
JL-^IL and stock raiser, residing on section 8, 
Green leaf township, and one of the most 
prominent old settlers in Meeker county, 
was born in Norway on September 6, 181.5. 
He remained in his native land until the 
spring of 1852, when he came to the United 
States and settled in Eock count\'. Wis. On 
July 12, 1854, he returned to his native land 
and remained until 1857, when he returned 
to the United States, setthng this time in 



St. Paul, but three months later went to 
Scott county, Minn., where he spent the 
winter. His next move was to locate in 
Wright county, where he spent two years in 
the " Big Woods," and then, in the spring of 
1860, he came to Meeker county, and took 
a claim on section 8, where he has since 
lived. Flis trip to this county was one of 
severe hardship, as he came on foot from 
Wright county, accompanied by his oldest 
son, Even. At that time there was only one 
house in sight — on Inger Hill, which was oc- 
cupied by a man named Inger. They came 
in tlie winter or early spring, and bought a 
hand-sled, on which they drew their tools, 
etc., and went direct to the Ole Ness place, 
which was near Little Lake, in what is now 
Litchfield township. During that winter, 
he would start every morning for his place, 
and spent his time in getting out logs, so as 
to be ready to build in the spring ; also dur- 
ing that time, he dug a well fifty feet deep 
for Ole Ness, and stoned it up. He remained 
about a month at that time, and then bor- 
rowed a sled and yoke of oxen from Ness and 
started to Wright county for his family. At 
the time he started, the ground was covered 
with snow, but it thawed before he s:ot 
through, and he was compelled to construct 
a home-made wagon with which to get back, 
accomplishing it by hewing out four wheels 
and erecting a rude frame work. Upon his 
return, he staid two nights at the Ness place, 
and then left his family for several months 
at a bachelor's named Guner, while he was 
building a shanty on his place. About 
August he moved his family into the cabin. 
During that year he raised a few potatoes, 
but for the first five years following his set- 
. tlement, he lost most of his crops through 
the blackbirds. 

Thus matters were moving peaceably until 
that fatal August, 1862, when the terrible 
Indian outbreak began, and as Mi'. Evenson 
was one of those who were here during the 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



most trying times, we will briefly review his 
experience. On the ITtli of August, Even 
and one of his brothers were at Ness's and 
learned of the massacre at Acton. When 
they told their father, he could not realize 
that the matter was an aotual fact, and after 
remaining quietly at home over night, he 
started the next day (Monday, the 18th,) for 
Ness's to learn the pai-ticulars. On the way 
he met a neighbor, named Butler, who 
begged him to hitch u]) mhiI take his family 
to St. Paul, but Ml'. Evensou refused and 
went on to the farm of Ole Ness. Learning 
that the Indians were really on the warpath, 
he sent his wife and two little children to 
Forest City, and he and. the boys staid on 
the farm until the following Wednesday, 
putting up hay. On the day mentioned, his 
wife returned to the ])lace, and told him that 
he must pack up and get to some place of 
safety, as the news had come in daily of the 
terrible murders which the Indians had com- 
mitted. He accordingly was reluctantly pre- 
vailed upon to go to Forest City, where heat 
once learned that there was good ground for 
the terror which had seized every one. The 
following morning he started with his family 
for Kingston, where he remained t\\ o weeks, 
and then, as Capt. Whitcomb's " Home 
Guards" had been organized, they returned 
to Forest Cit}\ They were there when the 
Indians made the attack on that place, and 
Mr. Evenson and son, Even, were doing 
guai'd duty that night. Even was the sec- 
ond one to return the fire of the Indians. 
At the time, the family were sleeping in 
Atkinson's store, and when the attack came, 
at about one o'clock in the morning, they 
hastened inside the fortification. When the 
father got a chance to look around, he found 
that one of his sons — Andrew — was missing, 
and at once started out to find him, but see- 
ing nothing of him, he returned and found 
that Andrew had safely got inside. The 
bullets were then flying thick and fast. 



After the attack there followed a period 
when j)rovisions got very scarce, and it was 
dangerous to go out to find eatables. 

After a time the excitement some\vhat 
subsiiled, but for two years they were 
always on the alert, not knowing what time 
the treacherous savages might renew their 
depredations. In the fall the family return- 
ed to the farm and during the \vinter they 
lived by trapping. Settlei's soon began re- 
turning to tlieir claims and his cabin was a 
I'egular tavern. Money was very scarce, 
and but few of the settlers had the pleasure 
of seeing any money that winter, to say 
nothing of owning any. 

Now to return to Mr. Evenson's private 
history : Hans Evenson was married in the 
year 1842, to Christina F. Anderson, and 
they have been blessed with seven chil- 
dren, as follows — Bertha, born Sept. 22, 
1842; Even, born Nov. 21, 1844, mentioned 
elsewhere at length ; Andrew, born Oct. 30, 
1847; Helena M., born Oct. 3, 1852 ; John 
F., born Feb. 3, 1856, died May 30, 1857, on 
board shiji and was buried at sea in St. 
Lawrence Bay ; John F., born Jan. 22, 1859 ; 
and a child born in 1861, which died at the 
time of birth. Mrs. Evenson, the wife and 
mother, dieil on the 19th of January, 18S7. 
Mr. Evenson is a republican in politics as is 
the case with all his sons. He is a member 
of the Lutheran church. Mr. Evenson is 
now well along in years and is passing the 
evening of his life in a quiet way with his 
children. He has lived a life of usefulness 
and activity, a man of the strictest honor 
and integrit}'' and one for whom every one 
who knows him entertains the kindliest feel- 
ings and highest regard. 

John F. Evenson, one of the sons who is 
mentioned above, with whom the father 
resides, was born in Wright county. He 
was married May 28, 1885, to Mary John- 
son, and they have been blessed with two 
children — George H., born June 22, 1886 ; 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



225 



and Christina F., born Feb. 20, 1888. Mr. 
•Evenson carries on the farm and also devotes 
his attention extensi veh' to stock raising. 
He is one of the leading and most successful 
agriculturists in the township. 



-■•J" 



JAMES NELSON HANSON is one of the 
successful farmers of Acton township. 
He was born in Denmark on the 20th of 
March, 1837. When he left his native land, 
in 1859, he was called upon liy a government 
officer and told that he must return to 
Denmark a year later and serve his time in 
the army but after his arrival liere he 
decided that he was better suited to stay 
here and so he "forgot to return." Upon 
landing in the New World he stojiped for a 
short time at New Orleans and then went 
to Kaufman county, Tex., where he was 
employed at driving and marking cattle for 
an extensive stock-raiser until the fall of 
1860. He then returned to New Orleans 
and worked for W. H. Wilier, at gardening 
for one month for §10; then he drove a mule 
team for the same party for $20 per month. 
His next move was to St. Louis, but not 
liking the place he boarded a steamboat for 
St. Paul and from there made his way to 
Empire City, Dakota county, Minn. There 
he remained for six years, working on a farm 
for Mr. J. Haislet, after which in 1872, he 
settled in Acton township, where he still 
lives. 

Mr. Hanson was married in 1802, to Miss 
Marthe Christianson, who was born in 
Norway on the 17th of February, 1843. 
They have been blessed with the following 
named children — Josephine, born January 9, 
1863, died April 5, 1860; Mary Julia, born 
December IS, 1861:; Josephine E., born 
August 24, 1866 ; Gemalinde Christine, born 
April 3, 1869; Hans Olaus, born September 
25, 1870 ; Martin Julius, born August 16, 



1872; Edwin Anton, born September 25, 1874^ 
Adolph Ottoer, born June 26, 1876, died June- 
8, 1877; Adolph Ottoer, born April 8,1878; 
Nettie Amanda, born July 3, 1880, died Feb- 
ruary 16, 1884; Henry Elvin, born August 
21, 1882; and Nettie Amanda, born October 
6, 1885. Mr. Hanson has taken an active 
interest in all public affairs and has held 
various offices of trust and importance, 
including those of school director, and 
clerk, road ovei'seei-, pound master and 
others. The family are members of the 
Norwegian Lutheran church. Mr. Hanson 
was a poor man when he came to this 
country but has been very successful and 
has a comfortable home and a valuable farm 
of 120 acres. 



>^HARLES W. BUTTERFIELD, proprie- 
^^^ tor of the hotel and the oldest resi- 
dent now living in the village of Greenleaf, 
was born in Washington county. Me., on 
the 8th of May, 1835. His parents, Francis 
and Eliza Eutteriield,were of English descent, 
though natives of the "Pine Tree" State. 
The greater part of Charles' early life was 
spent on his father's farm and doing carpen- 
ter work, yet he was engaged at various 
times in the pineries. In 1854 he was mar- 
ried to Mary E. Beedy, who was born in 
Maine 1835. Three children were born to 
them — Wilmot B., who is mentioned else- 
where at length; Ida May, now Mrs. W. W. 
Johnson, of Litchfield; and Edwin B., a resi- 
dent of Dickinson, Dakota. Mrs. Butterfield 
died in 1861, and in 1862 Mr. Butterfield 
was united in marriage with Mary A. Pineo, 
who was also a native of Maine. 

In 1865 Charles W. Butterfield, our sub- 
ject, came West and settled in the village of 
Greenleaf, Meeker county, Minn., where 
he still lives. He purchased farm property 
in Ellsworth township, but his residence and 
business interests were in the village. For 



2a6 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



one year he controlled the mail route from 
Minneapolis to (Treenleaf via Watertown, and 
he at ]ircsent has thei'oute from Litchfield to 
Hutchinson. Mr. Butterfleld is a Greenleaf 
man in the strongest sense of ihe term. He 
has staid by the village through all its vicis- 
situdes, and to-day enjoys the distinction of 
being its oldest inhabitant in point of years of 
residence. He has held various township 
offices and is ever found identified Avith mat- 
ters pertaining to the welfare of his adopted 
home. Mr. Buttertield's name appears fre- 
quentl}' in the pages of this volume, as he has 
been prominently connected with the history 
of the village in whicli he resides. He is a 
member of the Golden Fleece lodge, No. 89, 
A. F. & A. M., of Litchfield. 



>ETER BERGGREN, a respected and 
1^ intelligent farmer residing on section 
85, Union Grove townshij), is a son of Nels 
O. and Meta Berggren, and was born in 
Sweden on the 27th of July, 1860. His 
parents brought the family to the United 
States in 1868 and made their way direct- 
ly to Meeker county, Minn. They first 
stopped at Grove City, and the father took 
a homestead near there, upon which they 
lived for five years, proving up on the place, 
but afterward lost it on a mortgage, having 
had bad luck with their crops. They then 
settled on another farm where they lived 
three years, but the grasshoppers came and 
destroyed their grain and they lost that 
farm. In March, 1879, they came to Union 
Grove township and the father purchased 
200 acres of land on sections 35 and 36, 
•where the family still reside. The fatlier 
died tliere on the 4th of Septeml)er, 1879, 
and the mother on the 2d of Februarv, 
1888. They were both honest and industri- 
ous peo])ie and were held in high respect by 
all who knew them. They had a family of 



eleven children, six of whom are dead and 
five living. The living children are as fol- 
lows : Petei-, born July 27, 1860 ; Ole, born 
September 5, 1862 ; Andrew, born July 17, 
1869 ; William, born February 8,1871; and 
John, born July 16, 1875. 

Peter has cliarge of the farm and is a suc- 
cessful and industrious young man, who is 
certain to succeed in liis farming opei'ations. 
The farm is well stocked, and is one of the 
most valuable in the township. 



TOHN FLYNN, the father of Michael J. 
W and Daniel Flynn, was one of the 
pioneers of Meeker county, arriving here on 
the 8th of July, 1856, and took Government 
land on sections 22 and 23, in Forest City 
township. He was accompanied at that 
time by John Whalen and family, and sev- 
eral others. His family at that time con- 
sisted of himself and wife; Mary (now Mrs. 
Daniel Dougherty, of Harvey township); 
Michael J. and Daniel, now of Litchfield; 
and Elizabeth, now wife of Hon. W. M. 
Campbell, United States Marshal for Minne- 
sota. Besides these, there were two hired 
men and a nephew of Mr. Flynn. The 
Flynn family started from Crown Point, 
Lake county. Ind., about the 12th of May, 
1856, with the idea of finding a home in 
Iowa or Minnesota. Their outfit consisted 
of two covered Avagons, with two yoke of 
oxen hitched to each ; and they also had 
twenty-five head of cows, besides quite a lot 
young stock. Wlien they reached Dubuque 
and learned of the magnificent country in 
this part of ]\Iinnesota, tlie father decided to 
investigate, and, in company with John 
"Whalen, he started on a Mississip])i river 
boat for St. Anthony, with the under- 
standing that the family should meet him 
upon his I'eturn, at Rochester. The family 
accordingly 2>i"oceeded with the teams and 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



227 



stock, arriving at the appointed place four 
or five days before tlie return of the father. 
At that time there was only one house at 
Eochester — a little 14x20 feet log cabin, 
which served tiie purpose of store, hotel, 
saloon, etc. When the father returned he told 
them that he had looked over Meeker county 
and had decided to locate here. They then 
started north, crossing the river at Monti- 
cello on the 4th of July, having to swim the 
stock, finally arriving and taking up land in 
this county, as above stated. Mr. Flynn at 
once began improvements and remained upon 
the farm until the time of his death, in June, 
1859. The family remained there until the 
time of the Indian outbreak, at wiiich time 
the women folks went to Clearwater, where 
they remained a month or so. The bo^'s 
remained here or returned immediately to 
get in their crop (for it was harvest time), 
and participate in the action against the 
Indians. Their house was not molested by 
the redskins, but served as a headquarters 
for all of the friends and neighbors south 
and west of them. 

John Flynn was a native of County Wa- 
terford, Ireland, born in 1805, and was a 
gardener Ijy profession in the old country. 
About the year 1836 he emigrated to Amer- 
ica ami lived for some time at Buffalo, N. Y., 
whence he removed to Chicago. In the lat- 
ter city lie married Miss Ann Lynch. From 
there he moved to Elgin. 111., where he set- 
tled on a farm. He afterward made several 
removals previous to coming here, and was at 
one time engaged in contracting on the Lake 
iShore & Michigan Soutliern railroad, in Indi- 
ana, just before starting for this locality. 



MELS ELOFSON is one of the pioneers 
of Swede Grove township. He is a 
son of Elofson and Bertha Anderson, and 
was born in Sweden on the 14th of June, 



1834. He came to the United States with 
his mother in 1857, coming to Meeker 
county, Minn., direct, and filed a claim on 
land on section 33. He later sold that place 
and now owns 240 acres on sections 26 and 
27, where he now lives. On tlie 31st of 
August, 1861, he was married to Miss Ellen 
Eckbom, a daughter of Andrew and Anna 
Eckbom, who was born in Sweden August 20, 
184L Their union has been blessed with 
the following children — Edward N., born 
October 9,1862; Andrew N., born March 21, 
1864; William, born April 11, 1866 ; Betsy, 
born May 16, 1868 ; Anna, born December 
26, 1869; Alice Bertha, born January 18, 
1876, and Fred, born November 18, 1880. 
Edward is in business at Grove City ; An- 
drew N. is foreman in a store at Paynesville ; 
and Betsy is a dressmaker at Litchfield. The 
other children are at home. Mr. Elofson 
learned the carpenter's trade before he left 
his native land. The fii-st work he did in tlie 
United States was in that line, finishing a 
house for a Mr. Yates in the fall of 1857. 
Being unable to speak English, Mr. Elofson 
was made to understand what was wanted 
by signs, and when the job was finished he 
received his pay in flour, and was perfectly 
satisfied. 

Tlie following spring he had hard work to 
find employment, but finally about six miles 
below St. Paul, he got a job of digging a cel- 
lar, laying the wall and foundation — his first 
mason work — and buikling the house. After 
finishing this he went to Carver and took 
charge of a widow's farm for about a year 
and a half, when he again returned to his 
claim, but soon went back to Carver and for 
a few months was engaged in a furniture 
shop. After his marriage he returned to his 
claim and his mother, his brother, Peter, and 
sistei", Betsy, lived with him. 

Mr. Elofson took an active part in the 
Indian warfare and was present through all 
the Indian troubles. On the 17th of August, 



228 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



1862, a meeting of some of the settlers was 
held at Mr. Elofson's house for the purpose 
of raising three men to fill a draft, which had 
been made on the town of Swede Grove. At 
about ten o'clock in the morning his neighbor 
Monson's children came and informed them 
that the Indians were about and they were 
afraid to stay there. Upon learning this Mr. 
Monson and Swan Nelson went over to see 
what was the trouble and met the Indians, 
who were mounted, on tiie way. One of the 
red skins reached down and caught Nelson 
by the whiskers and pointed to the east, but 
he did not understand what tiiey meant. 
They soon arrived at Elofson's and the latter 
found that he was acquainted with several 
of the party. The Indians would not talk 
English but stated that they were on their 
way to the " Big Woods '' for the purpose of 
killing some Chippewas, that had been kill- 
ing the whites. They then rode off and soon 
met an aunt of Mr. Elofson's and frightened 
her by brandishing their knives, but offered 
no violence. After the murder of the Jones 
and Baker families the news of the outbreak 
spread very rapidly, and in the evening Mr. 
Elofson and Nels Hanson went to the scene 
of tlie murder where others had gathered 
before tlieir arrival. There they learned the 
details of the affair and were told to come 
back the next morning and help bury the 
dead, which they did. While they were there 
nine Indians came in sight and several shots 
were exchanged, but no one was hurt. Mr. 
Elofson then returned to his home and helped 
to start his own and all neighboring families 
for Lake Ripley (now Litchfield); while he 
with acouple of others awaited developments. 
On the 22d they saw Indians at a distance 
in pursuit of whites and decided that it 
was time for them to go to some place of 
safety. Mr. Elofson learned that his family 
had gone from Lake Ripley to Forest City, 
then Clearwater, and then St. Paul, and 
knowing they were safe he returned to 



Forest City and participated in the organiza- 
tion of the " Home Guards." Mr. Elofson 
was also at Forest City at the time it was 
attacked by the Indians, and took an active 
part in the defense. Mr. Elofson remained 
at Forest City until October, when, lie in 
company with others, started out in seai'cli of 
stock and found considerable of it. All of 
the houses in Grove City had been burned 
except two. Not iiaving heard from his 
wife and child since the beginning of the 
outbreak, and not knowing where they were, 
he went to St. Paul to look them up. There 
he met a friend who informed him that they 
had gone to his wife's parents at Carver, 
whither he went, and remained until the fol- 
lowing spring. lie then worked at carpen- 
ter woi'k until August, when he removed to 
Anoka. In February, 1864, he rented the 
farm where Litchfield is now located, and re- 
mained there until fall, when he Ijought a 
house at Forest City, and lived there until 
the following s])ring, then returned to his 
farm, and has since made this his home. In 
January, 1870, he went to Sweden, and 
returned the following June, bringing 300 
emigrants with him ; he was the first post- 
master in Swede Grove township and held 
the office for seven years. From 1872 to 
1876 he was in the agricultural implement 
business. He also spent about five months 
in the employ of the map publishing house 
of Warner ife Foote. Mr. Elofson is a demo- 
crat in political matters, and has taken an 
active interest in all matters of a public 
nature. He has held various offices, includ- 
ing those of coroner, chairman of supervisors,, 
school clerk, etc. 



f 



^Ifi^'iMOTHY DUNN, one of the earhest 
._Jj settlers of Meeker count}', made a pre- 
emption claim on a part of sections, Darwin 
township, in July, 1856, atid upon that same 
piece of land makes his home at the present. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



229 



He was a native of Count}- Tipperary, Ire- 
land, who had come to the free shores of 
America in 1847, landing at New York. 
After a few daj'^s spent in the metropolis of 
the western world, he went up the Iludsoii 
river to Rondout, New York, but a few 
weeks later came westward and settled at 
Milwaukee, Wis., where he labored for five 
years. About that time the gold excitement 
in California was at its height, and Mr. 
Dunn, then a young and vigorous man, 
started for that land of the sunset and 
passed three years of his life in that part of 
our country. 

Returning to the " States," as it was 
termed in tiiose days, Mi-. Dunn then came 
to Meeker county, as stated above. He was 
one of the first settlers of Darwin township, 
and, it is believed, plowed the first furrow in 
that part of the county. His boy, Edmund, 
who died in 1862, was the first death in the 
township. The first season that Mr. Dunn 
was here he planted some potatoes, but says 
that the grasshoppers took them about as 
fast as they showed above the ground. 

In August, 1862, Mr. Dunn was assisting 
in stacking grain at the Widow Powers' 
place, Avhen he heard of the cowardly mur- 
ders at Acton and the first news of the 
Indian outbreak. Leaving at once, he 
found, on reaching his own place, that a 
notice was fastened upon the door of his 
cabin, warning him of his danger, and that 
the Indians were up for mischief. He ac- 
cordingly went to Forest City, antl from 
there to Kingston, where lie remained some 
three weeks. Going on, finally, to Minne- 
apolis, he there remained until October fol- 
lowing, when he returned to his farm. He 
found everything destroyeil here, and had to 
commence forthwitii to rebuild his place 
as from the very beainnino-. 

Mr. Dunn was married July -1, 1861, to 
Miss Mary A. Deavey, who l)ecame the 
mother of nine cliildren, all of whom are 



dead but two. Tlie family are devotedly 
attached to the Roman Catholic Church, and 
fulfill their proper duties. In politics Mr. 
Dunn is a steady, warm-hearted democrat, 



and a good citizen. 



-4- 



^^OPHIA C. PRATT is' postmistress at 
"^^^ Greenleaf village, and also cari-ies an 
extensive stock of general merchandise. She' 
is a native of Otsego county, N. Y. After 
receiving a thorough education, attending 
school in New York and Canada, she be- 
gan teaching school and followed that pro- 
fession for some time in Canada. On the 
17th of September, 1859, she came to 
Meeker county, Minn., with her sister, Eliza, 
the father having arrived here on the 
6th of June, 1859, they Ijeing among the 
early settlers, and she resumed her vocation 
as a teacher in her new home. She was one 
of the first teachers in the county, having 
held one term at the house of Mr. Ci'oss, at 
Cedar Mills, as early as 1860. She was paid 
by subscription and " boarded round." When 
the Indian outljreak occurred siie was teaching 
school at Greenleaf village. At an early day 
Miss Pratt clerked for W. H. Greenleaf. On 
November 30, 1SS6, Miss Pratt was ap- 
pointed postmistress at Greenleaf village, the 
office having become vacant through the 
resignation of her brother Ira, and since that 
time she has retained the position to the entire 
satisfaction of all the patrons of the office. 
Miss Pratt's connection with the business in- 
terests of Greenleaf has been an active one, 
and she is prominently identified with the 
history of the southern part of the county. 



BANIEL FLYNN, of Litchfield, is a 
son of John Flynn, who has ah'eady 
been mentioned in this department. Daniel 
is a native of Elgin, 111., born May 18, 1843, 



230 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



and came to Meeker county, witli his parents, 
in 1856, when still a boy. lie remained 
principally with the family until 1873. 
During the Indian troubles the family was 
taken to Clearwater, l)ut Daniel, with others, 
remained to fight the redskins. In 1S73, 
he rented out the old homestead and came 
to Litchlieltl. Tiie following year, in 
company with his brother, Michael J., he 
engaged in the lumber trade and in the 
winter of 1875-0, they took up agricultural 
implements. Later they sold out their 
lumber business to W. H. Greenleaf. In 
1879 the firm purchased the Butler elevator, 
and since that time have carried on a very 
extensive business in 'grain and farm 
machinery. During the season of 1887 they 
handled over 175,000 bushels of wheat alone. 
In 1884 Mr. Flinn was elected sheriff of 
Meeker county, and held the office for three 
years. He has filled various other offices 
and was for several years one of the village 
aldermen, and has always taken an active 
interest in all matters affecting the welfare 
of his town or county. 

Mr. Flynn was united in marriage, Decem- 
ber 25, 187-1, with Miss Mary A. McNamara, 
a native of Jefferson City, Mo. By this 
union there have been born a family of eight 
children, whose names are respectively — 
John Arthur, Daniel, Thomas, Michael, 
Francis, Louise, Mary and Elizabeth. 



-«-- 



lLE AMUNDSON, a pioneer of Meeker 



county, who is now a resident of sec- 
tion 29, Litchfield township, is a native of 
Norway, born April 9, 1823, and a son of 
Amund and Bertha Christophdatter Olson, 
both of whom are dead. Ole came to Amer- 
ica in 1855, and after living for two years in 
Eock county. Wis., came to Meeker count}^ 
Minn., arriving here in July, 1857. He first 
selected a timber claim on section 25, Acton 



township, and he and Kels Danielson and 
Amos Nelson Fosen ])roved u]i on tlieir land 
together and then divided it. he retaining 
one forty -acre tract in tlie timber, and three 
forties on section 29, in what is now Litch- 
field township. After the close of tiie war 
he took an eighty-acre liomestead, and five 
years latei' built the house on section 29, 
where he now lives. 

On the lotli of October, 1860, he was mar- 
ried to Oline Marie Sy vertsdatter, who was 
born in Norway on the 5th of February, 
1832, and who died on the 27th of August, 
1883. She bore him seven children — Albert, 
born July 30, 1861 ; Betse, born January 4, 
1863; Syvert, born October 20, 1864, died 
October 6, 1865; Syvert, born March 21, 
1866; Johanne Marie, born August 9, 1869 ; 
Carl, born September 3, 1871 ; and Olaven, 
born October 3, 1873. 

At the time of the Indian outbreak Mr. 
Amundson was living on his original claim. 
He received the news of the beginning of 
the massacre from Mrs. Baker, widow of 
one of the murdered men, and another 
woman, who came to his house on Sunday, 
August 17, 1802. After assisting in the 
burial of the victims, he removed his family 
to Forest City, and assisted in Iniilding the 
stockade, living in the meanwhile in a house 
just outside of it. W.'ien the town was so 
suddenly attacked by the Indians, he lost no 
time in gettmg his family into the fort for 
refuge. When the danger seemed to have 
passed, he and several others went to Ever 
Jackson's place to cradle wheat, taking 
with them Mrs. Ever Jackson and IMrs. 
Helena Danielson, to keep house for them. 
They cradled wheat on one Saturday, and 
on Sunday went out and found the cattle, 
which had strayed off, and drove them into 
tlie yards. That night they noticed that the 
dogs were in a state of alarm all night, and 
it became evident that Indians were prowl- 
ing around. The next morning Andrew 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



231 



Olson and Nels Danielson -vvent over to the 
corrals to salt the cattle, while Mr. Amund- 
son and Burger Anderson were ens'affed in 
grinding their cradles. Presently they 
heard five shots fired, and taking the two 
women with them, started to run for their 
hves. Finding that the women could not 
hold out, they secreted them in a thicket and 
then went on to Forest City. The next 
morning they returned with a squad of men 
and found the women still safeh^ hid, but 
Olson had been killed and scalped. They 
buried him on the spot, but his remains were 
subsequently interred in the Ness cemetery. 
In the spring, after the outbreak, Mr. 
Amundson moved his family back to his 
farm. He has met with three disasters 
since, having his crops destroyed once by a 
hailstorm, and twice by the grasshoppers ; 
but his untiring energy has enabled him to 
overcome all, and he now has a splendid 
farm of over 200 acres. His family are 
members of the Ness Norwesfian Lutheran 
church, and he is sexton of the cemetery. 
It may be of interest to state in this connec- 
tion, that the State monument over the first 
five massacre victims is located in this burial 
ground. 



-«— 



lRIN B. VOSE, the present township 
clerk of Union Grove township, is an 
enterprising and respected farmer residing 
on section 22. Mr. Vose was born in Waldo 
county, Maine, on January 28, 1840, and is a 
son of Edwin and Nancy J. (Custis) Vose. 
His mother ,died when he was eight years 
old, and for two years he lived with Daniel 
Heriman, near Frankfort, Maine. He then 
went to Montville and lived with Samuel 
Dodge for four years, after which for eight- 
een months he worked for Ames Sprawl. 
He then went to Boston, Mass., where he 
was apprenticed to George Kobinson, to 



learn the carpenter's trade, remaining with 
him three years. He then worked at his 
trade for two years, when he had a serious 
fall while working on an ice house at Lin- 
field, Mass., which laid him up for six 
months. When he had recovered sufficiently 
from his injuries he found employment driv- 
ing the horse cars between Chelsea and Bos- 
ton, which he followed for a year and a half. 
He then enlisted in Company H, Fiftieth 
Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 
for nine months' service, and was mustered in 
on the 29th of September, 1862. After the 
expiration of his term of service he was mus- 
tered out on the 24:th of August, 1863. He 
then went back to the horse cars, and served 
as conductor on the line between Eoxbury 
and Boston for two years and a half. At 
the end of that time he came to Minnesota, 
and for one summer stopped at St. Joseph, 
Stearns county. In the fall of 1866 he came 
to Meeker county, and took a homestead on 
section 22, Union Grove township, and soon 
afterward spent two and a half months in the 
pineries. He then settled on his homestead, 
building a log cabin, but two months later 
took his family to St. Joseph, Stearns county, 
and remained there four months. He then 
settled again upon his homestead and has 
since lived here, Avith the exception of one 
year spent in California. 

Mr. Vose was married on the 11th of Sep- 
tember, 1861:, to Miss Sarah F. Merrill, a 
daughter of John and Mary (Wilson) Merrill, 
who was born April 2, 184:8. Their marriage 
has been blessed with one child — Bessie Lynn 
Vose, who was born September 17, 1881. 
Mrs. Vose lost one brother, Charles F., in the 
first battle of Bull Hun. She has three sisters 
living in Minnesota, and one in Maine, 
besides one brother in Maine and one in 
Ohio. Mr Vose lost one brother, Edwin, in 
the battle at Petersburg. 

Mr. Vose has taken an active interest in 
public affairs, and has been closely identified 



23^ 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



with official business of tlie township. He 
has held various offices, including the follow- 
ing: supervisor, one year; constable, eight 
years; school clerk ten years, and town clerk 
since 18S4. 



JAMES PETER BERG, of Acton townshiji, 
is a native of Denmark, and was born on 
the 29th of December, 1S44. His parents 
were Hans Peter and Mary Berg ; the father 
died in Denmark in 1870 and the mother 
is still living in his native land. James 
Peter came to the United States in 1865, 
and first stopped at Chicago, where he was 
employed in a lumber yard for several weeks. 
He then went to Dakota county, Minn, 
where he remained until the spring of 1867, 
and then settled in Acton township. Meeker 
county, having previous to this time taken a 
homestead on section 3-4, in that township, 
where he still lives. He was a poor man 
when he came to America, in fact was 
almost penniless, but by thrift and economy 
he has accumulated a line property. He 
now has 172 acres of land and a great deal 
of it is under a high state of cultivation. He 
has excellent farm buildings, an abundance 
of farm maciiinery, and has considerable 
valuable stock gathered aljout him. 

Mr. Berg was married on the 23d of 
October, 1869, to Miss Helena Sophia Mari,a 
Thompson, a native of Denmark, born April 
10, 1850. She came to Meeker county, in 
1869, with Nels K. Brown and worl;ed for 
different parties until her marriage. Her 
parents came to tlie United States in 1877 
and are now living in Big Stone county, 
JMiiin. Tlie niarriaije of Wv. and Mrs. Bero- 
has been Ijlessed with the following named 
children: Hansina Maria, born October 12, 
1870; Thomas, born March 27, 1873; Karo- 
line, born June 13, 1875 ; Jennie Sophia, 
born February 13", 1878 ; Hans Peter, born 



June 15, 1880; Dagmar Anneta, born Febru- 
ary 13, 1883; and Rose Marinda, born 
August 15, 1885. The family are members 
of the Norwegian Lutheran church. In 
])oliticul matters, Mr. Berg acts independent 
of party lines or party ties. 



"•V' 'l 



EUBEN S. HERSHEY, proprietor of 
[['c^, the " Fairview Stock and Dairy 
Farm," in Greenleaf township, is a lineal 
descendant of the Swiss Mennonites of that 
name who first settled in Lancaster county. 
Pa., in 1719. Reuben Hershey was born in 
Lancaster county, and was reared on the 
farm with his parents, Martin and Elizabeth 
Hershey. After reaching manhood he \vas 
engaged for a time in the forwarding and 
commission business, and in 1872 he came 
to Meeker county, Minn., and bought his 
l)resent farm ])roperty in Greenleaf town- 
shij). In 1873 he purchased the James H. 
Morris interest in the Litchfield flouring 
mills, retaining the interest about three 
years, remodeling the mill and giving it a 
reputation second to none in this part of 
the State. After his retirement from the 
milling business, he began devoting all his 
time, energy and talents to the stock and 
dairy business and the improvement of his 
beautiful farm home. The farm consists of 
about 1,000 acres, but a goodly portion is 
tenanted, Mr. Ilershey's attention being for 
the most jjart given to his stock and dairy 
interests. He operates a dairy on the place, 
the butter of which always commands an 
advance in price over the best creamery but- 
ter generally on the market. Mr. Hershey 
has in the ])ast suffered some heavy losses 
through grasslH)j)per ravages and hailstorms, 
yet he has taken but few backward steps, 
antl to-day " Fairview " is justly regarded as 
one of the most beautiful and most valuable 
farms in this portion of Minnesota. 




^^^<yH^ 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



235 



JOHN ESBJORNSSON is one of the most 
prominent lumber merchants, and is also 
one of the first settlers of Litchfield. He 
arrived at Litchfield on the 28th of June, 
1869, coming as far as Smith Lake, then the 
end of the railroad, on a train, anil walking 
from there to Litchfield. At tiiat time the 
site of the village only contained one black- 
smith shop, and the site of the present depot 
was covered with a wheatfield. 

In August, 1869, in company with C. Peter- 
son, he engaged in the lumber trade, start- 
ing the first lumber yard in the village. The 
following winter the firm was dissolved, and 
Mr. Esbjornsson engaged in the wheat trade. 
This he followed until the fall of 1887. In 
1876 he bought out S. "W. Leavitt's lumber 
yard, and has since continued m that busi- 
ness, handling sash, doors, blinds and every- 
thing pertaining to that line of trade. Mr. 
Esbjornsson has' taken an active interest in 
public matters, has been elected alderman a 
number of times, and at present is the mayor 
of the village, having been elected to that 
position in the spring of 1888. 

Mr. Esbjornsson is a native of Sweden, 
where he was born January 30, 1845. His 
younger days were spent upon a farm, and 
his earlier education was that afforded by 
common schools, but when he was twenty- 
two he took a course in an agricultural col- 
lege. Shortly after this he decided to come 
to America, and from that time until his emi- 
gration, in 1869, he devoted his time to edu- 
cating himself in the English language. He 
was married in 1879 to Miss Eureca A. Ilo- 
senquist, of Meeker county. 



-«" 



«^- 



OHN A. QUICK, one of the energetic 
citizens of Collinwood township, is 
engaged in carrying on farming operations 
on lot 5, section 20. He is the son of Elijah 
and Phoebe (Clark) Quick, and was l)orn 



in Grayson county, Ky., August 21, 1838, 
but when he was about a year old his parents 
emigrated to Perry county, Ind., where 
they died. Our subject worked at home on 
his father's farm, and his educational facili- 
ties were extremely limited. He obtained 
but five months' attendance upon a subscrip- 
tion school, but diligent study and an 
extended course of reading have given him 
an excellent education, which is altogether 
self-acquired. On attaining his majority he 
went back to Kentucky', and for several 
years was employed in various laborious busi- 
nesses. He finally returned to Indiana and 
rented a piece of land and put in a crop. 
"While here, June 29, 1862, he was wedded 
to Miss Margaret Waggoner, who was born 
in Frankfort. Germany, February 27, 1841, 
and daughter of AVilliam and Elizabeth 
(Haydener) Waggoner. He then purchased 
the homestead of his mother, and carried on 
farming until December, 1863, when he 
enlisted in Company L, Thii'teenth Indiana 
Cavalry, and partici])ated in the engage- 
ments at Huntsville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, 
Nashville and Moljile, and in many of the 
raids, skirmishes and expeditions. For over 
thirty -seven days they were in the saddle 
constantly on one raid, and they had several 
of thein. He was mustered out of ser- 
vice, as blacksniitii, in December, 1865, 
and for a sliort time after followed that 
trade in Indiana. He then sold out and 
came to Minnesota, settling in McLeod 
county in 1866, wiiere he lived two years 
and then came to Meeker county. He has 
held various townslii]) offices, and also that 
of notary public and county coroner. He 
taught school somewhat after coming here, 
and holds two teacher's certificates now. He 
is a zealous Methodist in religion, a licensed 
exhorter and has held the office of church 
steward and class-leader for several years. 
He is the parent of the following children — 
Lucy Jane, who was born October 2, 1863, 



236 



MEEKER COUXTY, MIXNESOTA. 



but died Jul}' 4, 186i; Mary Magdalene, 
born September 25, 1867, now Mrs. Ilerljert 
Quick, of Fort Ilipley, Morrison county, this 
State, her marriage having taken ])lace 
November 18, 1880, and she is the mother of 
one child, Ernest Clyde, born March 18, 
1888; Andi'ew Jackson, born March 31, 
18fi9, died January 4, 1873; Rebecca Jane, 
liorn August 14, 1871, died the following Oc- 
tober 20; Sarah Elizabeth, born February 24, 
187G ; riia'be Catherine, born August 5, 
1878 ; and Effie Josephine, born July 16, 1881. 
jNfr. Quick has the reputation of making 
the best syrup manufactured in Meeker and 
McLeod counties. He began the manufacture 
of cane syrup in 1884 and 'has continued it 
ever since. He has one of Cook's improved 
evaporators and other necessary machinery, 
and with his skill and management his pro- 
ducts in this line are second to none manu- 
factured in the State. In the fall of 1884 he 
made over 600 gallons, 12 {wuncls to the gal- 
lon ; in the fall of 1885, 1,600 gallons, weigh- 
ing from 12 to 13 pounds to the gallon ; and 
in the fall of 1886 about 1,200 gallons of the 
same weight. In the fall of 1887 he only 
manufactured about 600 gallons, as his work 
was delayed on account of sickness. 



.-.^— — 



lig>>ATRICK CASEY. Prominent among 
W~ the old pioneers of Meeker county 
that still remain here is the gentleman whose 
name heads this personal memoir. He is a 
native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and was 
born in March, 1816, being baptized on the 
12th of that month. He was reared in the 
Emerald Isle and there made his home until 
tlie sad and eventful year of 1848, when, 
with a laudable desire to better his condition, 
he came to this country, landing at the port 
of New York on the 22d of January, 1849. 
After a short stay in the metropolis he 
removed to Allegheny county, Pa., where he 



remained some six years, and where he was 
married July 8, 1851, to Miss Hannorali 
McRaith. Leaving the "Keystone State" in the 
spring of 1S56, he came west to IManitowoc. 
Wis., and from there by way of Chicago, to 
Dubuque, Iowa, and fi'om there by steam- 
boat to St. Paul. There he met Captain 
Hayden, with his corps of surveyors, William 
and Michael O'Brien and Patrick Condon, 
and the whole party, in the month of May 
started in a bee line for Meeker county. 
With them was one ox team, the wagon 
being loaded with four barrels of flour 
belonging to Hayden. On the 1st of June, 
the little pai'ty struck the Big Woods and 
for sixteen days they struggled through the 
thirty-five miles that lay between them and 
their destination, reaching Kingston on 
the 16th of June, 1856. Two days later Mr. 
Casey took his claim on section 33, Darwin 
township, where he now lives, and which 
has been his home ever since, except during 
the Indian troubles. 

Putting up a cabin for himself and assist- 
ing the others to do the same, he paid Cap- 
tain Hayden thirty-five to dollars plow up 
an acre of ground for him, so that he could 
hold the claim. He then returned to Penn- 
sylvania, where he had left his family, but 
hearing that his claim had been "jumped," 
he returned to his land and found that Cap- 
tain Hayden's brother in-law had laid claim 
to the land, but no one was occupying it at 
the time. He took up his residence in his 
humble cabin to guard the place, but found 
no trouble. He and Patrick Condon 
" batched "' in Condon's shanty, where they 
had plenty of provisions, and spent that win- 
ter. In the spring IMr. Casey sent for his 
family, and waited in St. Paul for them. On 
their arrival he brought his wife and three 
children to this county, they arriving here 
May 9, 1857. That year he raised but a few 
potatoes, and in 1858 he bought a few bush- 
els of wheat, which he sowed and had to 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



237 



thrash witli a flail. From the bushel and a 
half which he sowed ujion the acre of ground 
which he broke, he harvested over fortj^ 
bushels. 

On the evenino- of the 18th of Aug-ust, 
1862, our subject heard of the Indian out- 
break that had commenced that day, and 
immediately took his family to Forest City, 
and two days later to Clearwater, stopping 
several times on his way, and from the last 
place sent the family on to Minnea})olis, and 
returned to look after the stock. lie found 
all in good sha])e but one steer, and gathering 
them together, drove off some twenty seven 
head, leaving six cows with John'Peiffer to 
keep for him. Going to Minneapolis, he did 
not return here until the spring of 1865, 
when he again took up his abode on his farm. 
He got about $300 from the State to indem- 
nify him for his losses, which helped give him 
a new start. 

Mr. and Mrs. Casey are the parents of 
twelve children, of whom the following is the 
record — Bridget, born April 16, 1853; Mary, 
whose birth took place August 31, 1854 ; Pat- 
rick, born April 18, 1856 ; Daniel, born April 
3, 1858; John, born March 21, 1861; Ed- 
mund, born December 24, 1862; Margaret, 
born August 20, 1865 ; Thomas, born Janu- 
ary 20, 1867 ; Ellen, born February 3, 1869 ; 
Hannorah, born June 27, 1870; Joanna, born 
May 14, 1872; and James, born February 9, 
1874. 

The family are devout members of the 
Roman Catholic church. Mr. Casey is in 
politics a democrat, and has held the offices 
of chairman of the town board and town 
treasurer. 



^TlLS DANIELSON, deceased, was a 
_yfj| respected citizen and an old settler 
in the western part of the county. The 
township of Danielson was so named in 
honor of him. He came to this country 



with his parents in 1855, and first settled in 
Rock county, Wis. They moved from there 
to Meeker county, Minn., in 1857, in com- 
pany with Kittel Haraldson, Ole Amundson 
and Gilbert Zackson. They first settled 
in the town of Acton and in 1863, Nils 
Danielson took his homestead on section 2, 
town of Danielson, and was the first settler 
in the township and the town was afterward 
named in honor of him. Nils Danielson died 
in 1869. The widow and six children 
survive him, all living in this county. There 
are four boys and two girls: the eldest, Helen, 
is married to E. Evenson, of the town of 
Greenleaf; the next oldest, Mary, is married 
to Ole K. Nilson, of the town of Danielson. 
Then comes D. N. Danielson, who is 
mentioned elsewhere. The next oldest is 
Henry, who is married and lives in the town 
of Cedar Mills. The next is Hans, who is a 
single man and lives with Daniel. The 
youngest, Anthony, also single and lives on 
the old homestead with his mother. 

As will be seen the family were hei'e at 
the time of the Indian outbreak. The father 
took an active part in the whole of it; 
was one of the band who went on the night 
of the 17th of August to Acton, where Jones, 
Baker and the others were murdered. Nils 
Danielson started out in company with 
Andrew Olson, to their respective farms, on 
the morning when Olson was shot by the 
Indians, and the two were only about fifty 
rods apart when Olson fell. 



fETER JOHNSON. Among the citizens 
of Meeker county who owe their pres- 
ent adequate fortunes entirely to their own 
ability and labor there is probably none more 
widely or more favorably known than the gen- 
tleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a 
resident of the village of Dassel, where he has 
large interests, prominent among which are 
his loan and real estate business, the lumber 



23S 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



yarcl, liis connection with the woolen mill, 
and greatest of all, the Tile Stove J\Ianufac- 
tory, the product of which is destined to 
supersede, to some extent in this country, 
the old, unsightly iron stoves of the present. 

Mr. Johnson is a native of Sweden, born 
December 13, 1S40, and the son of Maria 
and John Olson, of CoUingwood township. 
When a young man he learned the tailor's 
trade and followed that avocation in his 
native land until 1861. Perceiving the 
impossibihty of acquiring any start in life in 
that counti'v he determined to seek in the 
New World the fortune denied him at home, 
and accordingly crossed the stormy Atlantic, 
and coming directly west worked at his 
trade in Chicago, 111., Mem])his, Tenn., and 
St. Paul, Minn., remaining in the latter city 
until 1867. Leaving there, that year, he 
traveled on foot to see the country, and on 
his arrival in CoUingwood township, this 
county, took up a homestead on section 12, 
and commenced its improvement. He lived 
upon this place, engaged in the avocation 
of a farmer until 1878, when he sold out 
and removed to Dassel, and opened his loan 
and real estate office. From this time on he 
has been identified with the growth and 
development of the town and county, and 
hasgrown in wealth and influence with them 
and to-day is one of the leading spirits in all 
enterprises that advance the interests or 
propei-ty of Dassel. 

Mr. Johnson, while a resident of St. Paul, 
was united in marriage with Miss Johanna 
Swanson, a native of Sweden. The ceremony 
which united them took place May 28, 1868, 
in the German Lutheran church, tiien on 
Ninth street. 

Xo one citizen has been more prominently 
identified with the growth and development 
of the eastern jiart of Meeker county than 
has Mr. Johnson, and every enterprise cal- 
culated to benefit either town or county has 
always received his hearty aid and encour- 



agement, lie is a man of the strictest honor 
and integrity, and justly merits the high 
esteem in which he is held. He takes an act- 
ive interest in political matters, being a staunch 
republican, and is one of the leaders of that 
party in the locality in which he lives, and 
as such is well known thi'oughuut this part 
of the State. Mr. Johnson was one of the 
delegates from this congressional district in 
J1888 to the national convention at Chicago. 
A portrait of him will be found elsewhere in 
this Album. 



/^^, ROVE CITY can boast of as fine a 
^^pT class of business men as any town 
of its size in Minnesota, and prominent 
among them is C. C. Reitan, the subject of 
this sketch. He, like many of the citizens 
of the State, is a native of Norway, born 
March 21, 18-19, and the son of Clement and 
Anna Reitan. Reared in his native land, he 
there received the elements of his education, 
and remained there until 1870, when, at the 
age of twenty-one, he crossed the ocean to 
the New AVorld to hew out his own fortune, 
bringing with him the honesty of purpose, 
the perseverance and the thrift so common 
to his countrymen. He came direct to Min- 
nesota on his arrival on Columbia's shore, 
and locating in Rice county, near Northfield, 
worked for a farmer there for some four 
years. He then went to Minnea])o]is, and 
for nearly as long a period was employed as 
a clerk in the grocery store of A. C. 
Haugen. A triji to his native land at the 
close of that eno-asement followed ; and 
while there he was united in marriage Julv 
10, 1877, with Miss Karen Kinseth. the sister 
of Mrs. A. C. Haugen, the cashier of the 
Scandia bank of Minneapolis. She was 
born September 19, 1852. He, with his 
young wife, returned to this country, arriv- 
ing in Minneapolis on the 13th of August, 
1879. Resuming his old place with Mr. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



239 



Haugen, he remained until November fol- 
lowing, when he came to Grove City and 
opened a general merchandise store in con- 
nection with Mr. Haugen. This partnership 
lasted three years, and then he purchased 
the interest of his partner. Two years later 
John Christensen became a member of the 
firm, and the business is still carried on by 
them. Their building is a very line one 
and well filled with a well assorted stock of 
goods. The firm Iniilt an elevator of 50,000 
bushels capacity, which tliey also operated 
for two years, after which they sold it to 
the Northwestern Elevator Co. In 1885 
Mr. Reitan made another trip to Europe for 
his health, durine which he visited Enjr- 
land, France, Belgium, Germany, Norway 
and Sweden. His parents came to the 
United States in 1887, and now make their 
home with him. 

Mr. and Mrs. Reitan are the parents of 
five children, of whom the following is the 
record — Conrad Ulfred C, born June 17, 
1879; Louis, born April 17, 1881; Gustaf 
Arthur, born July 19, 1883 ; Ludwig 
Christian, born June 30, 1885 ; and Beatha 
Susanna, born October 20, 1886. 



«»- 



lp)ETER KEILTY, a highly respected 
1^ farmer and stock- raiser, residing on sec- 
tion 28, Forest Prairie township, was born in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 20th of September, 
1847, and is the son of William and Bridget 
Keilty, who were natives of Ireland. The 
family were among the earliest settlers in the 
township, the father having cut his own road 
to his homestead on section 34, which he 
took in 1864. The parents lived here for 
many years, then went to Kansas, but re- 
turned, and are now living in the township. 
Peter Keilty spent his school days, receiv- 
ing a good education, in Kentucky and Illi- 
nois, his parents having removed to the latter 



State in 1863. They remained there for sev- 
eral years, one of which was spent in the city 
of Chicago, and they then went to Berrien 
county, Mich., where they remained until 
coming to Meeker county, Minn., in 1866. 
The most of the life of our subject has been 
devoted to farming, althougii there have 
been some excejjtions. For two years he 
was on the Northern Pacific Railroad as a 
cook, and he also spent some time in lumber- 
ing. He also for some time was in Colorado. 

Mr. Keilty was married at Forest City on 
the 7th of January, 1SS3, to Miss Gertrude 
Thissen, a native of Minnesota and a daughter 
of Peter Thissen, a farmer of Forest Prairie 
township. Their marriage has been blessed 
with two children, named Josie and Bernard. 

In political matters Mr. Keilty affiliates 
with the republican party. The family are 
members of the Catholic Church. lie has a 
comfortable home and good farm, and de- 
votes his time and attention to stock-raising 
and to diversified farming'. 



-«•-£: 



-^^.■ 



EANDER L. WAKEFIELD. One of the 
first pioneeis of Meeker county, and 
one who has always been identified with its 
interests, is the gentleman named above, who 
first made his appearance here in November, 
1856, and settled upon section 18, Forest City 
township. He is now a resident of the 
village of Forest City, the old county seat, 
whose glory has departed since the incep- 
tion of Litchfield. 

Mr. Wakefield is a native of the town of 
Gardiner, Kennebec county. Me., born Octo- 
ber 22, 1833. 

He received his education, and was reared 
in the " Old Pine Tree State," and as he 
grew to manhood engaged in lumbering in 
that locality, and followed that business until 
some twentj'-three years of age, when he 
came to Minnesota, and Meeker county. 



240 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



He iulopted farniing on coining here, which 
has been liis chief occupation ever since, lie 
has filled several of tiie town offices, the 
chief ones being those of supervisoi' and con- 
stal)le. lie is always interested in educational 
matters, being for several yeai's a member of 
tlie school board. 

Our subject lias been twice married, the 
first time to ]\[iss Lois Sturtevant, also a 
native of Maine, who died Aunust 2r., 1876, 
leaving seven children — AVilliam Edwin, wlio 
married Miss Addie Peters, and is living in 
Forest City ; Theron A., who married Miss 
Flora Taylor, and lives in Litchfield ; Sarah 
H., Mrs. Seth Burdick, living in Forest City ; 
Mary E., John R., Luella L., and Leander L. 
April 15, 1878, Mr. Wakefield contracted a 
second matrimonial alliance, with Mrs. Ruth 
E. Smith, a native of the State of Maine. 

During the Indian outbreak Mr. Wake- 
field had quite an experience. He and Will- 
iam Mai'ble had engaged to take a quantity 
of flour from Forest City to the Yellow 
Medicine Agency, and when within half a 
mile of tlie Minnesota river and eight miles 
below the agency, camped for the night, 
sleeping under their wagons. 

About two o'clock in the morning they 
were awakened by two Frenchmen who had 
fortunately escaped the mui-derous Sioux at 
the agency and on account of the dense fog 
had lost theii' way. From the Frenchman's 
limited knowledge of the English language 
they \vere unable to learn the particulars, 
and determined to investigate the matter. 
They yoked tlie oxen, intending to proceed to 
the ferry, then in charge of a Mr. Brown. 
When on their way to the ferry their atten- 
tion was attracted by two horsemen, riding 
at a rapid rate. On noticing the teams the 
horsemen turned out of their course, accosted 
Mr. AVakefield and Mr. Marble, saying, 
" Turn back, if you want to save your scalps ; 
the Indians arekilling the whites at sight, at 



the agenc}'." After giving this information 
they continued their flight to the lower 
agency. Witliinan h<iurtliey werecaj)tured 
by the Indians. 

Providentially, one of the men, Mr. Blair, 
escaped thi-ough the mei'cy of some friendly 
Indians. The fate of the other was unknown. 
Obeying the order given, Mr. Wakefield and 
Mr. Marble turned back, down to a ravine, 
unloaded their flour and started toward 
Forest City, traveling the distance of seventy 
miles in twenty-four hours. Finding his 
house deserted, his family having gone away 
for safety, he j)roceeded to the village. 
After caring for his family, he rolled himself 
in his blanket and slept for nearly forty- 
eight hours. He then was emjiloyed by 
Judson A. Stanton to take the merchandise 
out of his store to Minneajtolis, and then 
joined his family. 



^IT ELSON J. MARCH is a native of Ack- 
worth, Sullivan county, N. II., and 
was born in 1828. He is a son of Geoi'ge and 
Hannah (Nelson) March, the former of whom 
was born in Londonderry, N. H., and the 
latter in Georgetown, Mass. They were 
married in 1808 and a j'ear later settled in 
Ackworth, where they spent the balance of 
their days, Mr. March dying about the first 
of the year 1832, and his widow in 1850. 

Nelson J. remained at home with his ])ar- 
ents until he was about sixteen years of age, 
at which time he went to Boston, where he 
s[)ent some six years. From there he re- 
moved to New York city, where he made 
his home until 1852. in which year he enii- 
ffrated to Illinois, where he was in the em- 
ploy of a railroad company, and had his 
headquartei-s in the cities of Springfield and 
Bloomington. In August, 1855, with a view 
to the betterment of his financial condition, 
he came to Minnesota, and followed the trade 
of carpenter at St. Paul. In the summer 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



241 



of 1861, and through the following fall 
and winter, the subject of our sketch was 
eno-ao-ed in recruiting- men to fill various 
Minnesota regiments, at the front and in the 
process of organization, and continued in 
this employment until July, 1862, when 
he was appointed deputy provost marshal of 
the second district, and sei'ved in that capac- 
ity until released from duty in July, 1865. 
Mr. March then engaged in the market gar- 
dening business on some seven acres of ground 
in St. Paul, and remained in that city until 
1867, when, having purchased a tract of 160 
aci'es of wild land in the town of Cedar IMills, 
this county, he came here and broke a j>art 
of it, and got it ready for seeding. In the 
fall he returned to St. Paul, where he spent part 
of the winter in getting ready for removal. 
In January, 1868, Mr. March moved his 
household goods and belongings to this farm 
where he made his home until 1874:, when 
having been elected to the office of sheriff of 
the county he removed to Litchfield, on tak- 
ing up the duties of that position. He was 
reelected at the expiration of his term of 
office, and served, in all, four years, in a very 
satisfactory manner. About 1876, our sub- 
ject disposed of his farm in Cedar Mills, but 
shortly after invested in 240 acres on section 
30 of the same town, which he owned until 
1885. In 1880, however, he took up a tree 
claim in Spink county, Dak., and bought 
lots in the village of Mellette. In 1885 he 
purchased SO acres on section 1, Litchfield 
township, which he now cultivates. In 1862 
Mr. March married Miss Mary J. Morrison, 
who was born in Bradford, N. IL, in 1842, 
and is the daughter of Moses and Mary 
(Cressey) Morrison, representatives of two of 
the oldest families of the " Old Granite State." 
Her parents settled at St. Anthony, Minn., 
in 1855, Ijut a year later removed to St. Cloud, 
where JMr. March and Miss Morrison were 
married. By this marriage there have been 
born five children — Frank M., born October 



22, 1863 ; Nelson D., born February 26, 1866 ; 
George K., July 26, 1868; Charles IL, Octo- 
ber 20, 1870; and Mary N., July 1, 1874. 
Mr. March is a member of the city council of 
Litchfield, and of Frank Daggett Post, No. 
35, G. A. E., and of the Masonic fraternity, 
having joined the latter order in St. Paul in 
1857. 

Mr. March has been a ])rominent and 
active public man wherever he has lived. 
In the spring of 1858 he was ajipointed as- 
sessor of the third ward in the city of St. 
Paul ; in the spring of 1859 was appointed 
market master for one year by the common 
council of St. Paul; in June, 1862, was ap- 
pointed enrolling agent of Dakota county, 
Minn., by Governor Ramsey. These positions 
all came to him unsolicited, as was also the 
case Avith his apjiointment as provost marshal. 
Mr. ]\Larch was engaged at "enrolling" in 
Dakota county when he first learned of the 
Indian outbreak. 

JTOHN DUCKERJNG. Among the older 
^ residents of the county, and reliable, 
trusted citizens, may be found the subject of 
thi^ sketch, who is a resident of section 22, 
Ellsworth township, where he settled July 
5, 1865,' and where he is devoting a large 
share of his attention to the rearing of Nor- 
man and English Shire horses, high-bred Dur- 
ham and Shorthorn cattle, and also sheep. 
He has some imported stock of the very best 
strains, that represent a large outlay of cash 
capital. Of late years the celebrated Cots- 
wold sheep have been his favorite, although 
formerly doing much with the fine-wool or 
Merinos. He sold, during the year 1886, of 
his surplus stock some §1,500 worth. His 
English Shire horse is claimed to be as fine 
a one as there is in the State, and, with one 
exception, the only one in the county. He 
has now some 348 acres of excellent land, a 
large share of which is under tillaare. 



242 



MEEKER COi'XTV. MINNESOTA. 



Mr. Duckering was born in Apley, Lincoln- 
shire, England, September 11, 1819, hence is 
nearly the same age as Queen Victoria. lie 
is tlie son of John and Elizabeth (Semper) 
Duckering, the former a native of Horsing- 
ton and the latter of Bucknell, England. The 
greatgrandfather of oui' subject was born in 
DenniJirkand died in England, and all of the 
ancestors on his father's side died in the same 
house, and lie in the same cemetery. John 
Duckering, the father of oui' subject, was 
a whig in politics, an<l a ('hristian member 
of the Church of England. He was the \yav- 
ent of but three children — Mary, Elizabeth 
and John. The two girls are still residents 
of "Old Albion," living in the city of Lin- 
coln. John Duckering came to the LTnited 
States alone in 1842, and first located in 
Troy, Walworth county. Wis., after a short 
stay in ]\[ihvaukee. He remained there sev- 
eral years, and then removed to Dodge coun- 
ty, in the same State, and there made his 
home for the term of seven years. While 
there he was united in marriage with Miss 
Maria Bean, October 22, 1846. She is the 
daughter of John K. and Maria Bean, \\-\\o 
had a family of eigiit children — Louisa, Will- 
iam, Betsey, Charley, Elizabeth, Maria, John, 
ami one that died in infancy. Mrs. D. is a 
native of Clinton count}', N. Y., anfl is the 
mother of twelve children, four of whom are 
dead. Those living are — Mary E., Charles 
H., John, Adam, Duane H., Maria L., Flora 
B., William C. and Warren W. Those de- 
ceased are — Dora, born in 1861, died Sep- 
tember 13, 1886, the wife of James Lemon; 
Frederick v., born March 29, 1859, died Feb- 
ruary 25, 1864; and William and Willis, 
twins, born in 1865, who died in infancy. 



, lNE of the leading and most 
^^^ prominent farmers in Meeker county, 
is IL J. Lashek, a resident of section 4, ( 'cdar 



Mills township. He wiis born in Switzer- 
land on the 22(1 of August, 1832. When he 
was six months old his parents came to the 
United States and settled in Philadelphia, 
where they died when the subject of this 
sketch was eitcht vears old. H. J. then 
went to Jersey City, where he remained until 
he was eleven years of age. Fi'om there he 
went to Dryden, N. Y., and was adopted by 
Albert Phillips, with whom he remained 
until he was fifteen years of age. At that 
time he went to Homer, N. Y., and learned 
tiie tinner's and copjtersinith's trade, serving 
until twenty-one. lie followed this Im.siness 
for years afterward in various cities thi'ough- 
out New York. 

While at Marathon, N. Y., on May 
15, 1854, he was married to Catherine J. 
Topping, of Dryden, N. Y. They remained 
there until 1859, when they came to Meeker 
county, Minn., and located on section 12, 
Cedar Mills township, having an interest in 
a claim taken by his wife's father, Mr. Top- 
ping. He also claimed land on section 4, 
and in 1861 moved on to the latter claim. 
For a time they lived in an Indian tepee, then 
in the stai)le, and finally when theii' house 
was ready for occupancy they moved into it 
December 31, 1861. There they were living 
when the Indian outlircak began. As a full 
history of this matter is given in another 
tlepartment, it will only be necessary to 
briefly refer to j\Ir. Lasher's personal move- 
ments during those trying times. On Mon- 
day morning, August 18, 1862, he learned 
of the massacre at Acton, and sent his family 
to section 12, where his wife's brother-in-law, 
D. B. Peck, lived, while he started to notify 
the settlers in Greenleaf. He found them 
all srone and he made his wav down to 
Peck's. The same day his family returned 
to his farm and he remained to help Peck 
harvest. Thursday he Avas notified of firing 
near his farm and went to Cedar Mills to get 
some one to accompany him for his family, 




^¥;^ 





MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



245 



but no one would venture, so he went alone. 
On reaching the farm he met some twenty 
parties wlio had started from Forest City to 
bury those killed at Acton, but they had 
been chasing Indians into Kandiyohi county 
and had made their way back this far in the 
night. Mrs. Lasher got supper and break- 
fast for them and they then started for For- 
est City. The family returned to Cedar 
]\Iills, and Peck, with his team, hauled 1,G00 
pounds of flour and other provisions from the 
farm to the same place. When they got 
there they found some eight or ten families 
gathered from the surrounding country, all 
bent on fleeing for safety, but after some tallc 
it was decided to build fortifications and 
i-emain. While they were talking, Dr. Earl, 
from Beaver Falls, Kenville county, came 
up and stated that all were killed in his 
neighborliuod except a very few, and that his 
three boys were wandering on the prairie 
somewhere southwest of them. Mr. Lasher 
and L. S. Weymouth started out and soon 
found and brought in the boys. They had 
met three Indians on the prairie who had 
passed through Greenleaf and Cedar, and 
had given them food and traded guns with 
them. These Indians they recognized as 
Little Crows. When Lasher and Wey- 
mouth got back, however, all the rest had 
fled. The\' Avere soon overtaken and 
brought back. Mr. Lasher was appointed 
captain, and they decided to fortify "the 
Point" in Cedar Lake and remain thereuntil 
the trouble was over. Wej'mouth and 
Lasher stood guard at the crossing by the 
mill. On AVednestlay a part}' of thirty or 
forty refugees from Yellow Medicine county 
came up, accompanied by the friendly 
Indian, " Other Day." With them was a 
Mr. Garvey, who had been wounded, and 
who died the following day at Mr. Lasher's 
house. Thursday all the new-comers left for 
a safer place, and a few days later the 
''Point" was evacuated, and all the settlers 



went to Hutchinson, through the advice of 
" Other Day," Mr. Lasher and several others 
returned to the farm to care for the grain, Mrs 
Lasher, Miss C. Jewett and Mrs. Geo. WiUs 
accompanying them to do the cooking. 
While there Strouts' company came through 
from Minneapolis on their way to Acton, 
and the next morning were surprised by the 
Indians, and routed and returned to Hutch- 
inson. The others also went back except 
Mr. Lasher and Frank Jewett, who remained 
upon a hill till they saw the Indians passing 
east and west, when they also started for 
Hutchinson, and met a party in search of 
them. The following day the Indians made 
the attack on Hutchinson. The next day 
Lasher and Weymouth returned to Cedar 
Mills and set loose all the stock. They 
found the mill running, it havmg been started 
b\^ the Indians, who had stolen all the flour. 
They returned to Hutchinson, and the next 
day Mr. Lasher organized a company, went 
back and repaired the mill and ground some 
flour for the settlers, who were sadh^ in need 
of it. Shortl}^ after this a portion of the 
Third Minnesota Regiment, under command 
of Major Welch, came through, and Mr. 
Lasher joined them as a scout, and remained 
in the service with Gen. H. II. Sibley for 
three years and a half, ])articipating in all its 
expeditions and battles, being in the engage- 
ments at Wood Lake and Lac qui Parle, etc. 
At the latter place they captured a number 
of Indians, thirteen of whom were after- 
ward hung at Mankato. 

During this time, Mr. Lasher's family had 
returned to the old home in New York. In the 
fall of 186-i they returned to Hutchinson, and 
in the following summer again settled on the 
farm. In lS(i9 Mr. Lasher removed to 
Litchfleld, where he followed his trade until 
18S1, when they again settled upon the farm, 
and have since remained there. While in 
Litchfield Mr. Lasher took an active interest 
in l)and matters, and was leader of that 



■246 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



organization for six years. He has now a 
valuable farm of 400 acres, with good 
improvements and lias it well stocked. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lasher are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. ^Ir. Lasher has 
always taken an active interest in church 
matters. Lie was one of the prime movers 
in securing the organization of the church in 
this township. lie had charge of the erec- 
tion of the building, and besides devoting 
much time, he personally became responsible 
for $200 to complete the edifice. He was 
also chosen superintendent of the first Sun- 
day school organized in the township in 
1860, and when they removed to their farm 
on section 4, they organized a Sunday school 
there. 

Mr. and Mrs Lasher have been the parents 
of eight children. Only four of them are 
living, as follows — Hulda C, now Mrs. II. 
P. Pfaff of Greenleaf ; Albert P., Sarah A. 
and Daniel B. The last three are still at 
home. 



1B)ETER N. HANSON, a young and enter- 
_|^ prising farmer of Cosmos township, 
has his home upon section 2, where he has 
160 acres of land, as well as another quarter 
on section 9, making his farm to consist of 
320 acres. He is the son of Hans H. and 
Mary Hanson, natives of Norway, who came 
to the United States in 1863. Llis father 
with his family came to Meeker county in 
1865, and located in Greenleaf township. In 
the spring of 1867, he came to Cosmos and 
put up the claim shanty of Daniel Iloyt, the 
first settler in the town, and later the same 
year took up a claim for himself on section 
10. The same fall he removed with his wife 
and children to this ])lace, and they were the 
first family in the township. They lived in a 
"dugout" that winter, but erected a house 



in the 



Mr. Hanson resided on this 



farm until 1883, when he removed to Dakota, 



where he now lives. He raised the first crop 
in the town, having some fifteen acres in 
wheat the summer of 1868. 

i'eter X. remained with his pai'ciits until 
his marriage December 13, 1876, Avith Miss 
Mary Olson, the daughter of Marten and 
Kain Olson, who was born in Norway. He 
then struck out for himself and bought a 
farm on section 2, and on this spot has lived 
ever since. 

Although a young man in years, Mr. Han- 
son has a shrewd head on him, and this be- 
ing appreciaited by the community, they have 
elected him to the office of town supervisor, 
whicli office he now holds; he has also been 
road supervisor. 



JOHN GIBNEY, an enterprising and suc- 
cessful farmer residing on section 27, 
Manannah township, is one of the most in- 
telligent and one of the best read and posted 
men in the county, and a man of a great 
deal of natural as well as acquired ability. 
He is a self-educated man, but a thorough 
course of reading on scientific, theological 
and other subjects has made him a ripe 
scholar, and because of his attainments he is 
one of the most prominent citizens in the 
northern part of the county. 

Mr. Gibney was born in County West 
Meath. Ireland, on the 22d of June, 1819, 
and is a son of Timoth}^ and Mary E. (Car- 
ney) Gibney. His early life was spent in the 
land of his birth, but in 1836 he came to the 
new world, binding at New York, and settled 
in the county of Madison, in New York 
State. In 1S3S he removed to Canada, and 
remained there until 186.5, when he came to 
Meeker county, Minn., and settled in Manan- 
nah township, where he has since lived. 

In 1818 Mr. Gibney was married to Miss 
Anna Lleaney, and their union has been 
blessed with ten children, five girls and five 
boys, whose names are as follows — Timothy, 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



247 



Mary, James, Owen, Katie, Ann, Patrick, 
Christoplier and Eliza, all of whom are living. 
The family are members of the Catholic 
Church. 

During twenty-two years of his life, Mr. 
Gibney followed railroatling, but the balance 
of the time he has been farming. In political 
matters he is an independent voter, and acts 
regardless of the dictation of party or creed. 
He has taken an active interest in his town- 
ship affairs, and has held several local offices, 
one of which was that of township assessor. 



AMES A. KLINE, who has been engaged 
^ so successfully in carrying on farming 
and stock-raising on his fine farm on 
section 22, Kingston township, is a native 
of Amsterdam, Montgomery county, N. Y., 
born December 17, 1813. He remained in 
the place of his nativity until some twenty- 
two years of age, when he emigrated to the 
wilds of Michigan, settling in Genesee 
county, where he was engaged in farming 
and lumbering. From there about 

1855, he removed to Winnebago county, 
111., where he made his home nntil 
18G7, when he came to Meeker connty, and 
settleil where he now lives. He received in 
his youth the elements of a good common- 
school education and l)y a diligent use of it 
has well-informed himself on all general 
subjects. AVhile a resident of Michigan he 
went to Tuolumne county, Cal., where 
he engaged in mining foi' two j'ears and 
then returned home. Most of his life has 
been actively engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, but having succeeded in achieving an 
easy competence, he is spending his declining 
years in the enjo^'ment of home. 

Our subject is the son of Adam and Eliza- 
beth (Ciyslor) Kline, both of whom were na- 
tives of the Empire State, and who emi- 
grated to Michigan in 1838, where the father 



died at the age of fifty-two years. His wife, 
the mother of our subject, died after attain- 
ing some eighty-three years. They had a 
family of twelve children- — William A., born 
August 21, 1810, died April 15, 1840; A. C, 
born May 31, 1812; James A., born Decem- 
ber 17, 1813 ; John, born January 24, 1851 ; 
Joseph, born August 20, 1823; George, born 
November 10, 1827; Sarah Jane, born March 
23, 1830; Henry, born May 15, 1832, enlisted 
in the Eighth Michigan Infantry, and was 
killed July 12, 1864; Maria, born April 28, 
1819, died August 1, 1822; Margaret, born 
November 17, 1822, died August 8, 1823; 
and Elizabeth J., born January, 1826, died 
November 8, 1826. 

James A. Kline was first married on tiie 
11th of October, 1840, in Michigan, to Mary 
Ann Perry. They had one son, who is liv- 
ing — George P. Kline, a resident of Dakota. 

Mr. Kline's second marriage occurred De- 
cember 12, 1848, when he was wedded to 
Mrs. Ann Talbott, nee Shimin, who was born 
in England, a daughter of John and Ann 
(CoiTis) Shimin. The date of her birth was 
November 21, 1815. A sketch of the 
Shimin family is given elsewhere in this 
Album. By this union Mr. and Mrs. 
Kline have had two children — Anna, wife 
of Mr. Hiram Ramsey, and James E., a 
farmer of this townsliip, who married Miss 
Emma Baker. Mrs. Kline by her former 
marriage had two children — Henry T., killed 
in the army November 25, 1863, at Lookout 
Mountain, a member of the Seventy-Fourth 
Illinois Infantry, and William, born January 
IS, 1846, married in 1868 to Miss Amelia 
Boom. 



^WAN AUGUST SCARP, of Litchfield, 
^^^ is a native of Sweden, born August 
20, 1845, and emigrated to the United States 
when he was about twenty-seven years of age. 
On landing he came direct to this village, 



248 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



where he remained until the following spring, 
when lie moved to a farm near that place, 
where he spent the next two years. Keturn- 
inii- to Litchfield he erected his residence, and 
entered the employ of S. Alnupiist, in the 
saloon business and remained with him some 
six years and a half, at the expiration of which 
time he entered into the same line of business 
for himself and continues to carry on the 
saloon. In 1887 he erected one of the finest 
residences in the village, at a cost of over 
$5,000, superintending its erection himself. 

Mr. Scarp, November 16,1873, was united 
in marriage with Miss Sophia Johnson, a na- 
tive of Sweden, and daughter of John and 
Ingra (Parson) Johnson; who became the 
mother of four children — Annie C, Julia L., 
Francis E., and Jennie. Mr. S. is a member 
of the Order of United Workmen. 

J. P. Scarp, a native of Sweden, was one of 
Litchfield's earliest business men, coming here 
in 1871, and engaging in sale of agricult- 
ural implements. He continued in that line 
of trade until 1882, when he made a visit to 
the land of his birth to see the old home and 
his parents, and on the vo^'age back, the ves- 
sel upon which he sailed was wrecked and 
he was di-owned in the Baltic Sea. He car- 
ried a policy of insurance in the Redwing 
company, which provided partially for his 
family, who still are residents of the village, 
and this, with his other estate, places them far 
above any necessity. He was a charter mem- 
ber of the Workmen's Lodge in Litchfield, the 
insurance from which was also $2,000. He 
was a man who ])ossessed the respect and 
esteem of the whole community, and was 
widely known as everybody's friend. His 
cruel death was a sad blow to his bereaved 
family, who still mourn his loss. 

^^, EORGE BECKER, a successful and 
\^pr prominent farmer and stock-raiser, 
who resides on section 23, Greenleaf town- 



ship, has the distinction of being one of the 
oldest settlers of Minnesota, who now resides 
in Meeker county, lie is connected with a 
family that has given a number of i)ioneers 
and prominent pul)lic men to the State. 

Mr. Pecker was born in Schoharie county, 
N. Y., September 30, 1842. When he was 
three years old his ])arents settled in Michi- 
gan, and remained there until 1855, when 
they came to Minnesota, and located near 
the present site of St. Cloud, in Stearns 
county. They made part of the journey by 
railroad, a portion by steamboat itnd the latter 
part by team. They arrived at their destin- 
ation in May, 1855, and were among the 
very first settlers in that county. The gov- 
ernment survey had not yet been made ; 
the old •' Territorial Road " was opened that 
far, but that was the terminus so far as 
settlement was concerned. The father made 
arrangements, in 1854, to claim the land 
which afterward became the original plat of 
St. Cloud, l)ut, through the du])licity of one 
in whom he had placed confidence, he was 
cheated out of it. There they lived through 
the most trying times in the history of the 
State, and there our subject, George, grew 
to manhood. 

His father, Harmon Becker, was born in 
1797, and for years was a hotel-keeper in 
Schoharie county, N. Y. He Avas married 
to Margaret M. Efner, and they reared a 
family of eight children — five boys and 
tliree girls. Harmon Pecker was a man of 
prominence and ability, and in the prime of 
his life had a great deal of influence in the 
locality where he lived. He took a great 
interest in stock-raising, and imported the 
first thorough-bred stallion of Duroc blood 
ever brought to the United States. In slav- 
ery days he was a slave-owner, but at the 
time of the abolition movement he gave his 
slaves their freedom, and ]>resented them 
with a forty-acre farm on which to live, not- 
withstanding their protestations that they 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



249 



preferred to continue their old relation of 
master and servant. In 1846 Harmon 
Becker removed to Washtenaw county, 
Mich., settling near Ann Arbor. While in 
that State he erected a large hotel, and 
later, sold it for $8,000 to a man named 
Grovener, but lost it ; and besides this, lost 
another $8,000 by becoming surety for an- 
other party and having to pay it. After 
this he followed farming until 1854, when he 
came to Minnesota to see the country, and, 
being pleased with it, he made arrangements 
to locate the land on which the city of St. 
Cloud is now located. J. L. Wilson was sent 
for a compass to survey the site, and, immed- 
iately upon his return, he ran out tlie lines, and 
built a shanty of tamarac rails and slept on the 
place that night. The next day, when 
search was made for him, there he was, 
in the first house on the site, and he, accord- 
ingly, claimed the land. Harmon Becker 
then returned to Michigan, and, the follow- 
ing year, settled in Stearns county, as stated 
above. He lived there until the time of his 
death, in January, 1857, aged sixty-six years. 
The widow, Margaret M., was very sickly 
at the time of leaving Michigan. She gained 
strength, however, and recovered, living 
until January, 1886, when her death occurred 
at Litchfield. She was eighty years of age. 
She was a woman of rare personal cour- 
age, which stood her in good need during the 
Indian outbreak. Both Mr. and Mrs. Har- 
mon Becker were members of the Presby- 
terian church, and exemplary Christian peo- 
ple. 

Times were very hard during their first 
few j'ears' settlement in Stearns county, as all 
pioneers will realize, and at times it seemed 
as though starvation stai-ed them in the 
face. But with that indomitable persever- 
ance and hope for the future which is of 
necessity a characteristic of the pioneer, they 
lived through it all. Just as times began to 
look a little brighter the Indian outbreak 



occurred, but they stood their ground and 
lived at or near St. Cloud during all the ex- 
citement. Shortly after this, George joined 
the Sully expedition, and followed the move- 
ments of that brigade, acting as sutler's 
clerk. Upon his return he remained at St. 
Cloud until 1865, when he went to the Pa- 
cific coast, by way of New York city, and 
as his journeys, hardships and adventures 
form an interesting narrative, we will briefly 
review them in this connection. He shipped 
from the metropolis on the steamer "Golden 
Rule" for Central America. They crossed 
the Isthmus by way of the Nicaragua river 
and lake, their steamer striking a rock and 
sinking, but the passengers continued their 
journey on other crafts. The river was so 
low that a part of the way they were con- 
veyed in small boats, manned by the natives. 
George Becker finally reached the Pacific 
ocean and shipped for San Francisco. The 
second day out they learned from a passing 
vessel the news of the death of Abraham 
Lincoln, and the flags were placed at half- 
mast during the rest of the voyage, and upon 
their arrival at the metropolis of California, 
they found the city a solid mass of emblems 
of mourning in honor of the martyred pres- 
ident. The trip from New York to this 
point had consumed forty-five days, and 
George at once sailed for the city of Victo- 
ria, Vancouver's Island, and, in a small boat 
crossed Puget sound to Whatcom county. 
There he remained for three years, follow- 
ing lumbering, and then returned to St. Cloud, 
Stearns county, Minn., on which trip he ex- 
perienced many dangers and hardships. He 
first shipped on the steamer "California" for 
San Francisco. When within thirty-five 
miles of the harbor of the latter place they 
encountered one of the worst storms ever 
known on the Pacific and they were driven 
500 miles to sea by the gale. The cabin was 
partly filled with water by the waves rolling 
over the vessel and the stateroom doors were 



250 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



broken in by tlio force of tlie water. When 
the vessel pitched and rolled, those in the 
lower berths were carried to the' floor by the 
water. Some were crying, some were Jiray- 
ing, some swearing, and others, as the saying 
goes, "were throwing up Jonah." Alter 
three days the storm subsided, but the waves 
were mountain high and it was not until the 
fifth day that they reached San Francisco. 
Their vessel had been given up for lost and 
reported wrecked with about eighty others 
that shared this fate. George Becker then 
shipped for Panama and on this voyage the 
vessel he was in took fire. When the alai-m 
was given it created a terrible panic and for 
a time it looked as though all were lost, but 
the engine, with a capacity of 320-horse 
power w^as attached to the hose, and the 
flames were extinguisiied. Four daj's later, 
the vessel ran out ot fuel, and the masts, 
yardarms, deck, cattle pens, bacon, rezin 
and all other loose material was used for 
fuel, to get ashore at Saline Bay, twelve 
miles from San Juan del Sura. Tliere they 
anchored and sent boats to San Juan for 
coal, while the passengers and crew went 
ashore in small boats, to cut mahogany wood, 
securing about forty cords by the time the 
coal arrived. That night the crew mutinied, 
and those who refused to do their duty, 
were brought to time by being tied to the 
masts. Upon his arrival at Panama, George 
Becker crossed the Isthmus on the railroad, 
the trains being queer affairs and running 
only at the rate of five miles an hour, mak- 
ing no stops. Our subject then shipped on 
the Atlantic for New York. When two 
days out, the vessel was wrecked or disabled 
by the cylinder head being blown out, and 
for twenty-four hours they were left at the 
mercy of the sea. They were then taken 
in tow by another steamer and piloted to the 
Gulf Stream, off' the coast of Cuba, and were 
then left to drift in to Savannah, Ga. 
By this time, George Becker had had enough 



of that kind of life, as for the last three days 
out, the cabin passengers hail nothing to eat 
but rice, crust coffee and hiud tack. Accord- 
ingly, he pui'chased another ticket for New 
York by rail, through the Southern States. 
This was shortlj' after the war, and General 
Sherman had left Georgia a hard looking 
country. Provisions were verj' scarce, and 
the conductors were obliged to telegi'a])h 
ahead for supplies for the passengers. Mr. 
Becker sto])ped off at several points, includ- 
iui!' Pichmond, Washington and New York, 
and finally arrived at St. Cloud on February 
1-1, 1S6S. He remained there, following the 
vocation of a policeman and various other 
lines of business until June, 1871, when he 
returned to tiie Pacific coast by wa_y of the 
Central Pacific Eailroad, proceeding from 
San Francisco to Puget Sound. He remained 
there until the winter of 1876, when he came 
to Litchfield, Meeker count}', Minn. In 
1878 he settled on the farm where he now 
lives, on section 23, Greenleaf township. He 
has one of the largest farms in the township, 
and one of the most valuable in the county, 
and has justly earned the reputation which 
he bears, of being one of the most desirable 
citizens, and from liis extensive travels and 
wide association with business, is one of the 
most intelligent and best-posted men in the 
county. 

On July 18, 1885, Mr. Becker was married 
to Sophia Vanberg, and they are the parents 
of two children — William II., born April 28, 
18S6, and Lillie M., born August 18. 1887, 
both of whom are living. Mr. Becker is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity. He and 
his wife attend the Presbyterian Church. 

We take pleasure in presenting a portrait 
of Mr. Becker on another ]iage in this Album. 



-«— I 



«4^- 



JTOHN MARTIN, an intelligent, thrifty and 
^ enterprising farmer, residing on section 
5, Harvey township, was born in County 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



251 



Cavan, Ireland, in Maj', 1824. His parents, 
Avho were Pliigh and Elizabeth Martin, were 
natives nf the same count}'. The father died 
in Ireland in 1830. The mother came to the 
United States in 1851, and lived in Pennsyl- 
vania until the time of her death, in 1876. 

John Martin, the subject of our sketch, 
grew to manhood in liis native land, acquir- 
ing the same habits of enterprise, industry 
and frugality which are so characteristic of 
his race. In 1S4S he left Ireland and came 
to the United States, landing at New York 
city on the 23d of May, and two days later 
he went to Bucks county, Pa., where he 
remained for four years. At the expiration 
of that time he went to Schuylkill count}', 
Pa., and remained there from the year 1852 
until 1877. While in that State he was em- 
ployed in mining coal for twenty-seven years. 
In 1877 he came to Meeker county, Minn., 
and located on a farm on section 5, in Har- 
vey township, where he has since lived. Since 
his residence here he has been eneae'ed in 
farming and stock-raising, and now has a 
valuable farm of 160 acres, a good share of 
which is under cultivation. 

Mr. Martin was married on the 25th of 
July, 1852, to Mary Farrelly, and their mar- 
riage has been blessed with the following- 
named children: Ellen, born August 22, 
1853, died January 25, 1855; Hugh, born 
October 31, 1855, died October 12, 1857; 
Joseph, born September 28, 1857; Bridget 
and Lizzie, born November 17, 1859; John, 
born November 3, 1861 ; Mary, born Sep- 
tember 18, 1863, died December 17, 1863; 
Thomas, born January 30, 1870, died same 
day. Mrs. Martin's parents were both na- 
tives of Ireland, where they lived until the 
time of their death. 

Mr. and Mrs. Martin are both active and 
exemplary members of the Catholic Church. 
In political matters Mr. Martin affiliates with 
the democratic party. 



P 



?J 



ELS EKBOM is one of the prominent 
farmers of Swede Grove township. 
He was born in Sweden on the 16th of 
December, 1849, and came to the United 
States in 1857, with his parents, Anna and 
Andrew Ekbora. They settled in Carver 
county, Minn., where Nels worked part of 
the time for his father, and the balance of 
the time for other farmers. In 1865 they 
came to Meeker county, and from Nels 
Swanson they rented a farm, on which the 
village of Litchfield is now located. A year 
later they removed to Swede Grove town- 
ship, and took a homestead on section 34, 
where Nels has since lived. He has been 
industrious, and the results prove that he is 
an excellent manager, as he has accumulated 
a fine property. He now has 120 acres of 
land, with fine buildings located on the edge 
of a beautiful grove. He has a goodly lot 
of stock, and all the necessary farm 
machinery. 

Mr. Ekbom was married on the 16th of 
July, 1870, to Miss Betsey Nelson, a daughter 
of Nels and Ellen Peterson, and the couple 
have had the following children — Anna 
(deceased), born July 5, 1871, died Septem- 
ber 15, 1871; Oscar, born July 22, 1873; 
Eugene, born August 15, 1875 ; Ellmer, born 
November 3, 1878 ; Anna, born May 8, 1882 ; 
and Joseph, born October 8, 1883. Mrs. 
Ekboin's father is dead and her mother is 
living in Sweden. Mr. Ekbom's mother is 
dead, and his father resides with a bi'other, 
Simon. Nels Ekbom and wife are members 
of the Baptist Church, in which he Is a 
deacon. Mr. Ekbom is a prohibitionist in 
political matters, and takes an active interest 
in township matters. He has held various 
local offices, including those of side-super- 
visor and road overseer. 

Mr. Ekljom is a man of the strictest integ- 
rity, and is held in high esteem by all. He 
has been superintendent of the Sunday 
school for over fifteen years. 



2S2 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



WILLIAM S. COX, one of the leading 
merchants of the village of Dassel, 
is the junior partner in the hardware firm 
of Gallagher k, Cox, who succeeded Bartholo- 
mew tV: Co. in 1888. lie is, althoiigh a man 
3'^oung in years,'oneof the influential citizens 
and largely interested in the growth and 
prosperity of his home village. He is a 
native of Bakersville, N. C, born in 1853, 
and is the son of S. I), and Mary ("Wright) 
Cox, natives of Virginia and North Carolina 
respectively. The father of our subject 
owned property in Knoxville, Tenn., and 
when AVilliam was but four vears of aoe, 
the family removed to that place, where they 
resided until 1860, at which date they re- 
turned to Bakersville, N. C, where the 
parents still live. 

The subject of this personal memoir re- 
mained with the family until 18Y0, at which 
time he returned to Knoxville, but a short 
time subsequent, removed to Broadhead, 
Ky., where he was engaged in mercantile 
pursuits for about a year and then, after a 
short stay in Little Eock, Ark., removed to 
Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, where he 
made his home until 1878, when he came to 
Meeker county, and settled on a farm on 
section 4, Collinwood township. He was 
engaged in railroad work while there until 
1881, when he purchased a farm on 
section 33, Dassel township, where he 
followed a farming life until 1885. He 
moved into the village in January, 1886, and 
for a year was a member of the firm of 
Johnson & Cox, dealers in agricultural im- 
plements, and remained in this connection 
until January, 1887. At that time, having 
been elected city marshal, he entered upon 
the duties of the office, but in August follow- 
ing resigned and entered the employ of the 
Minnesota k, Dakota Elevator Co,, with 
whom he remained until the formation of the 
present firm. 

Mr. Cox is a man of familv, having been 



married, April 11, 1878, to Miss Ala E. 
Wrigiit, a native of Minnesota. They are 
the parents of four children, of whom the 
following is a record — Custer, born August 
21, 1S7".»; Agnes, whose birth took place 
November 15, 1880 ; Soery, born August 15, 
1882, and died March 6, 1883; Sampson, the 
date of whose l)irth was J^ebruary 2, 1884; 
and Mautl, who was born December 25, 1887. 



JSRAEL J. ANDERSON, a farmer, resid- 
%^ ing on section 19, and one of the leading 
citizens of Union Grove township, is a native 
of Norway, born on the 4rth of February, 
1851, and is a son of Andrew and Karen 
Jacobson. His boyhood days were spent in 
his native land, and in 1868, in company 
with his mother and step-father, he came to 
the United States, and they settled first 
in Eacine county, Wis. When Israel 
started out to earn his own way in the 
world, he went to the southern part of Min- 
nesota, and for three years he worked in 
different localities. During this time he 
married his first wife, her name being, before 
marriage. Miss Jensinellendrickson, born on 
the 21st of June, 1854, a daughter of Hen- 
drick and Maren Olson. She died, leaving 
three children, whose names were — Hilda, 
born on the 25th of December, 1873 ; Albert, 
born on the 17th of June, 1875, and Martin, 
born on the 28th of March, 1877. 

Some time later Mr. Anderson was mar- 
ried to Miss Anna Jacobson, a daughter of 
Adrean Jacobson and wife. She was born 
on the 20tii of August, 1861. This marriage 
has been blessed with four children, as fol- 
lows — Jensine Nettie, born on the 7th of 
October, ISSO ; Adoli)h B., born on the 24th 
of February, 1883; Ida, born on the 7th of 
Februar}', 1885, died on the 17th of July, 
1887 ; and Anna, born on the 1st of March, 
1887, died on the 9th of March, 1887. 





^-.^^ 




'^^^^A^-jC^I^ 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



255 



Mr. Anderson comes of a nationality, Avhich 
through their enterprise, thrift, industry and 
frugalit}', make the most valuable citizens 
included in Minnesota's pojjulation, and fol- 
lowing the habits characteristic of liis race, 
lie has accumulated a fine pro]ierty. He now 
owns 250 acres of land located on sections 4,19 
and 30, Union Grove township, and has com- 
fortable building improvements located on 
sections 19 and 30. lie has taken an active 
interest in township matters, and has held 
various local offices, including those of super- 
visor and school clerk. In political matters 
he is a prohibitionist. The family are mem- 
bers of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. 



-«« 



iLE NELSON LINDELL, one of the 
\^^ leading, enterprising merchants of the 
village of Grove City, is a native of Sweden, 
born March 9, 1844, and made his home in 
the land of his birth until after his marriage 
which took place Nov. 7, 1867, on whicli 
day he wedded Miss Ella Nelson. In 1SG9, 
the young couple decided to leave their 
home beneath the frowning rocks and rock- 
ing ])ines of Norway, and seek in the new 
world that easier road to competence that 
America affords. On their arrival they 
came at once to Minnesota, and Mr. Lindell 
bought a homestead claim in Swede Grove 
township, of O. Levander. Tiiis was in the 
southeast quarter of section 2fi, and consti- 
tuted the south half, and upon tliis fanu he 
lived some eight years. In 1871 he bought 
sixty acres more ; his father's family emi- 
grated to this country. TJenting hisjilacetoan 
individual for six years, Mr. Lindell removed 
to the village of Grove City, and engaged in 
the furnicure business and gave some atten- 
tion to his trade, which was that of a car 
jienter. A year's trial satistietl him that the 
venture would be a judicious one, he added 
a full and complete stock of hardware and 



has now as large an assortment in both lines 
as is needed by the necessities of the trade. 
In the cellar of his store building he carries 
all kinds of heavy hardware ; on the first 
floor shelf and fancy hardware, and the sec- 
ond story is packed with furniture of every 
description. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lindell are the parents of 
four children, three on earth and one in 
Heaven. Their records are as follows — 
Mary Chi'istine, who was born Nov. 27, 
1871 ; Mina Albertina, born in September, 
1880; Otto, born Dec. 23, 188.5, and died 
March 25, 1886 ; Otto Anton, born Feb. 19, 
1887. 

Mr. Lindell in politics affiliates with the 
Democratic party and usually supports the 
candidates of that organization. He has 
held the position of village trustee for two 
years, and in March, 1888, was elected pres- 
ident of the village trustees, and is looked 
upon as a representative citizen. Mrs. Lin- 
dell is a consistent member of the Swedish 
Lutheran Church. 

In 1884 our subject became a member of 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
was elected financier and served for two 
years and was then chosen master workman 
of the lodge. 



(^^ KIMBALL, who was for many years 
\^^ closely connected with the business 
life of the country, and one of its leading mill 
owners, although now retired from the active 
pursuits of trade or manufacture, still keeps 
up his interests in wiiatsoever is for the ben- 
efit of the community. He is a native of tlie 
State of Maine, having been born in Oxford 
county, Jan. 4, 1832, and is the son of Asa 
and Esther A. (Walker) Kimball, both of 
whom were natives of the "Pine Tree State." 
His motlier was a daughter of tlie celebrated 
Col. Dexter Walker, whose history is too well 
known to be repeated in this connection. 



256 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



The subject of tliis memoir was reared in 
Androscoggin county, Me., and received a 
fair business education. From liis boyhood 
he lias always had a taste for study, and is 
to-day a ripe scholar. On reaching tlie years 
of manhood lie embarked in mercantile busi- 
ness, which liecari-ied on successfully for some 
thirteen years in his native State and then 
came to Minnesota, locating at Forest City 
in the fall of lS(i7. The same year, the firm 
of nines, Kimball c*c Beedy built the large 
fiouring mill at that place, and the same time 
opened a store in the village. This business 
arrangement continued until 1873, when Mr. 
Hines retired from the firm, the company 
having erected the Manannah flour mill on 
the Crow River, some ten miles above Forest 
City. This last Mr. Ilines took antl operated 
for several j'ears, the business at Forest City 
being continued by Kimball & Beedy until 
18S2, when ilr. Kiml)all I'etired from the 
business on account of ill-health, paying all 
his attention to the improvement of his place, 
one of the handsomest in Foi'est City town- 
ship, and to bee keeping, in which he is pre 
eminently successful. 

Mr. Kimball was united in marriage, Feb- 
ruary 7, 1854, with Miss Phoebe Manwell and 
they are the parents of two children: Geor- 
giana, the wife of Dr. W. E. Chapman, of 
Litchfield, and Edna Cecil, at home. Both 
Mr. K. and his estimable wife, are members 
of the Baptist Church. He is a republican 
in j)olitics, and is filling the offices of jus- 
tice of the peace and coroner, and isa pension 
and real estate agent. lie has held the office 
of justice for over fifteen years. 



•«"S€{^-4— — 



kOCTOR F. E. BiSSELL, one of the 
most prominent ])liysicians and sur- 
geons in this part of the State, settled at 
Litchfield in 1871, and began the practice of 
his profession in Meeker county. Doctor 



Bissell is a native of Wisconsin, and was the 
first male child born in Washington county, 
of that State — his birth having occurred on 
December 27, 18-15. His parents were Cyrus 
and Amanda (Case) Bissell, both of whom 
were natives of Connecticut ; but they had 
settled in Washington county. Wis., in .lune, 
1S15, and were therei'ore among the oldest 
settlers of that region. The Doct<n' was 
raised ujion a farm, but at an early age 
entered a drug store, and remained at that 
business for five years. AVhen he was eight- 
een he enlisted in the United States Navy, 
and served on the U. S. Gunboat "Lexing- 
ton," on the Mississippi river, and was in a 
number of minor engagements. The Doctor 
served as surgeon's steward, and was finally 
mustered out of service on June 0, 18(15. He 
then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and the fol- 
lowing winter entered the Charity Hospital 
College, from which he graduated in the 
spring of 1869. He first began practice in 
Clinttm Junction, Wis., and remained there 
until coming to Litchfield in 1871. He has 
since pursued his practice here, and has at- 
tained a wide reputation as well as a profit- 
able business. It should be stated, however, 
that since his settlement here, he has been 
absent eleven months. In the spring of 1878 
he removed to Cold S]n-ings, Stearns county, 
and opened a drug store. In the fall of that 
year he was elected to the legislature on the 
republican ticket. In the spring of the fol- 
lowing ye.ir, he returned to Litchfield, where 
he has since lived. 

Dr. Bissell was married on June 19, 1875, 
to Miss Addie F. Simons, of New York. 
They have two children — Emily S., who was 
born in November, 1875, and Frank S., who 
was born in October, 1878. The family are 
prominent members of the Episcopal Church. 

Dr. Bissell has always taken an active 
interest in all public and political matters, 
and takes a prominent part in the affairs of 
that party. In 1880 he was elected a mem- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



257 



ber of the council, and in the spring of 1886 
he was elected mayor of the city. The Doc- 
tor is the oldest jiractitioner now following 
the profession of medicine at Litchfield, and 
has a large practice. He is a member of the 
State ^[edical Association, and is president 
of the Pension Examining Board. He is an 
active member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic; was a charter member and one of 
the first officers of E. Branham Post, which 
was organized in 1873, and was one of the 
charter members of Frank Dago^ett Post, 
No. 35. He was elected surgeon of the latter 
Post at its first meeting, and still holds that 
position. He is also a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, being identified with 
Golden Fleece Lodge, No. 89, A. F. and A. 
M., and Eabboni Chapter, No. 37, R. A. M. 



.^^ 



iSM ILLIAM H. MILLER, the owner of 
^^jji a finely cultivated farm of eighty 
acres of land on section 8, Kingston town- 
ship, came to Meeker county in August, 
1865. He was born in Bath, Steuben county, 
N. Y., January 2, 1814, and is the son of 
David and Anna Maria (Bennett) Miller, 
natives of the " Empire State," where his 
father died. In 1838 the mother of our sub- 
ject came to Beaver Dam, AVis., where she is 
now living, having passed her ninetieth birth- 
day. Her second husband was Andrew 
Sears, who died in 1855. 

Our subject received a common-school edu- 
caiion in his native State, and, as he grew to 
manhood, engaged in the milling business 
and farming with his uncle, Sheldon Sears, 
spending some thirty years in various kinds 
of mills. He moved to AVisconsin with his 
mother, and, when the tocsin of war sounded, 
enlisted, November 5, 1861, in the Eighth Bat- 
tery, AYisconsin Light Artillery, and veteran- 
ized in the same battery in February, 1861:. 
He was an active participant in a number of 



engagements, among which were the battles 
of Stone River, Peri'yville, Chickamauga, 
Mission Ridge, Lookout .Mountain and Mur- 
freesboro. He was discharged at the close 
of the war, August 10, 1805, at Alihvaukee, 
and came direct to Meeker county, arriving 
here the last day of that month. 

Air. Aliller was married in 1834 to Miss 
EUenor Gregory, from whom he was shortly 
afterward -<livorced. He was subsequently 
married to Miss Clarissa Nodine, and two 
children were born to them — Susan AI. and 
Charles S. Aliller. After this Air. Aliller re- 
moved to AVisconsin, and a short time later 
to Chicago, 111. In 1852 his second wife died 
while on a visit to Portage City, AVis. 

Air. Aliller was united in marriage Decem- 
ber 20, 1855, with Aliss Susan Sanders, a 
native of Steuben county, N. Y., born Novem- 
ber 14, 1837, and daughter of David and 
Susan (AYakefield) Sanders, both of whom 
are deceased, the mother In 1852, and the 
father in 1882. Her father died in Portage 
county, AVis., whither he had removed many 
years before. By this union Air. and Mrs. 
Aliller are the parents of nine children — 
Eugene, born May 20, 1859; Edwin, born 
April 20, 1867 ; Emma, born July 22, 1868 ; 
Jennie V., born July 2, 1870; and Bertram 
D., born October 3, 1878. These are all 
living. Those deceased are — Etta R., born 
August 25, 1856, died in infancy ; Nellie AI., 
born June 9, 1861, died May 25, 1875 ; Alice 
B., wife of AVilford Downing, died Novem- 
ber 8, 1883 ; and Jessie, born Alay 25, 1874, 
died November 1, 1884. 



►^^ 



MONO the most prominent newspaper 
p^S\^ men in Aleeker county should be 
classed H. I. Peterson, editor and proprietor 
of the Litchfield Lidependent. He is a native 
of Goodhue county, Minn., born at Red 
AVing, on the 14th of February, 1857. He 



25S 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



was raised upon a farm, attending district 
schools daring the winter months until he 
had reached the age of fifteen, and in the 
mean time coming with his parents to Meeker 
county, jVIinn., in 1867. When he had 
reached the age mentioned he entered the 
office of the Meeker county News as an ap- 
prentice to learn the printing business, and 
remained there for about two years. After 
that time he was engaged chiefly at his trade 
as a compositor until 1876 when hel)ought a 
half interest in the Litchfield Independent^ 
of wliicli he is now sole proprietor. 

Mr. Peterson was married in 1881 to Miss 
Jessie Doll, of Meeker county. They have 
three children — Edward • Leroy, Florence 
Edith, and Bessie Frances. Mr. Peterson 
takes an active interest in all matters which 
tend to advance the mterests of either town 
or county; is a capable writer, and his paper 
is deservedly influential and po])ular. 



JAMES H. MORRIS, one of the most 
prominent citizens, as well as one of the 
most extensive farmei's and stock-raisers in 
Meeker county, is a resident of section 22, 
Litchfield township. He is a native of Fort 
Niagara, N. Y., was born on the 26th of 
September, 1815, and is a son of Colonel 
Thompson and Martha B. (Upham) Morris. 
His fatiier was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Fourth United States Infantry, was a prom- 
inent and influential man of his times, and died 
on the 11th of February, 1870. James II. Mor- 
ris' great grandpai-ents came from Wales in 
1715, and located near Philadelphia. Ilis 
grand fatiier, -Tames C. Morris, emigrated to 
Ohio in 1811; he had seen service in the Trip- 
olitan war, and was one of those captured on 
the frigate Piiiladeipiian, and held prisoner 
for two years by the Bashaw of Tripoli. 

James IL Morris, the subject of this sketch, 
began life foi' iiinisclf wlien aljout si.xteen 



years of age, by clerking for Col. J. D. Bing- 
ham, chief quartermaster of the Seventeenth 
corps, but was taken sick in front of Vicks- 
burg, and returned home. After recuperat- 
ing he began clerking for Capt. II. B. Good- 
rich, A. Q. M., and continued until March, 
lSf)-t, wiien lie enlisted in the 137th Ohio In- 
fantiy. In the following June he was ]n'o- 
moted to second lieutenant in the Tenth 
New York Artillery, and served in tlie front 
of Petersburg and Richmond during the sum- 
mer of 1861:, and in the campaign of Shenan- 
doah Valley,- Va., in the fall of 1864. 
During the winter of 1865 he was in the front 
of Petersburg and Richmond, on the Bennuda 
front ; and after the collapse of the Confed- 
eracy, was on duty in Petersburg, on the 
staff of post-commandant Col. George C. 
Kibble, of the Sixth New York Artillery. 
He was finally mustered out of the service 
on the 30th of June, 1865, at Sackett's Har- 
bor, New York. After the close of the war 
he went West, and finally located in Minne- 
apolis. In ]\Iai'ch, 1869, he removed to Das- 
sel. Meeker countv, where he erected a saw 
mill and built the first store. In December, 
1873, he removed to Litchfield and engaged 
in the milling and mercantile business. His 
name is closely indentified with the growth 
and develojnnent of Litchfield, and he fig- 
ures prominently in the business history of 
the county seat. On the 1st of April, 1875, 
he was appointed postmaster of that jilace, 
and retained tiie office until the 30th of June, 
1887. He now resides on his magnificent 
farm of several hundred acres, on the west- 
ern shoi'e of Lake Ripley, and devotes his 
attention to his extensive farming and stock- 
raising interests. Mr. Mori-is has taken a 
prominent and active interest in all public 
matters. He was first lieutenant of Compan}^ 
II, First Regiment Minnesota National 
Guards, from its organization until March 1, 
1888; is a member of Golden Fleece Lodge 
No. 89, A. F. & A. M., and was its master for a 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



259 



number of years ; a member of Rabboni 
Chapter, No. 39, and is the present eminent 
commander of Mileta Commandery No. 
17, Knights Templar. He is also a prom- 
inent member of Frank Daggett post, G. A. E. 

Mr. Morris wiis married at Minneapolis on 
the 13th of July, 1870, to Miss Florence J. 
"Williams. She is a daughter of John G.and 
Jane S. Williams. Iler father died in July, 
1880, and her mother is now living in Minne- 
apolis. Mrs. AVilliams, her mother, has five 
children who are now living, as follows ; 
Florence J., now Mrs. Morris, of Litchfield ; 
Lou B., now Mrs. James E. Upham, of Litch- 
field ; J. C. Williams, Marcia A. and Sallie 
E., of Minneapolis. 

Mr. Morris has one brother and one sister — 
Charles A. and Maria L., both of whom are 
unmarried and are living in Minneapolis. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morris has 
been blessed with the following named chil- 
dren — Mattie P\, Louise J., James C, Thomp- 
son C. and Richard W. (twins), and Harbron 
W., all of whom are living except Thompson 
C, who died at the age of seven months. 

We take pleasure in presenting a portrait 
of Mr. Morris on another page in this Album. 



^^ENUS O'KEEFFE, a well known, 
M^'i^^i^ successful and highly-respected 
farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 
6, Manannah township, is one of the most 
prominent citizens of the northern part of 
the county, and is one whose enterprise and 
thrift are evidenced bj' the fact that the 
building improvements, which have been 
erected on his farm, are a credit to the 
neighborhood in which he lives. 

Mr. O'Keeffe was born in County Cork, 
Ireland, on the 1st of November, 1830, and 
is a son of Menus and Charlotte (Fillpot) 
O'Keeffe. He remained in the land of his 
birth until January, 1853, when he sailed for 



the New World, landing in New York city 
April 12, 1853. They had a hard voyage, 
and for a time he lost lioj^e of ever seeing 
the United States, from hunger and starva- 
tion, as the vessel sprung a leak; but finally 
landed in safety. Our subject worked at 
gardening for six months, at 100th street, 
Bloomingdale road, N. Y., and from there 
went to Manhattanville, and drove an ex- 
press wagon between that point and Fulton 
street, from September until the following 
March, 1854, being without mitts or over- 
coat. Speaking of it he sa^'s : " I felt com- 
fortable, as my Irish blood was warm and 
young at that time." In April, 1854, he 
went to work as hostler and groom in a 
hotel on the Bloomingdale road, N. Y., and 
remained for five years. In 1859 he began 
work in the Central Park, N. Y., which he 
continued for five years, and then started for 
the " Great West," and the headwaters of 
the "mighty Mississippi." He landed at 
Minneapolis, and for two years was employed 
on the Manitoba railroad at Cedar Lake, and 
also at brick-making. In the fall of 18(56 he 
came to Meeker county, driving through by 
team, anil located on section 6, Manannah 
township, where he still lives. He is com- 
fortably fixed, as the saying goes, in this 
world's goods, and has a very ])leasant 
home, a good wife and. an intelligent family. 
He owns 240 acres of land, a goodly portion 
of which is under cultivation, and also does 
considerable in the stock-raising line. In 
political matters he is a democrat. 

Mr. O'Keeffe was married in Julj^ 1856, to 
Julia McLoney, and they have been the 
parents of nine children, as follows — Will- 
iam, Menus, Mary, Sharlotte, John, Eliza- 
beth, Julia, Margaret and James. All the 
children are living, except William, Mary 
and Sharlotte, who died and were buried in 
New York city. Both Mr. and Mrs. O'Keeffe 
are zealous and prominent members of the 
Catholic Church. 



260 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Mr. O'Keeffe's parents died in Meeker 
county. Mrs. O'Keetfe's parents were natives 
of Ireland, and are still residents of County 
Cork, in tlieir native land. 



►H^- 



w 



^HOMAS H. BOGAR, who came to 
Minnesota in the spring of ]8()(j, was 
born November 10, 1810, in Juniata county, 
Penn., on the hanks of tliat beautiful river 
known in poetry as tiie " Uiue Juniata," 
where his childhood years were spent. He 
was brought uj) as a miller, that being his 
father's occupation. When a mere lad tlie 
family moved to Hawkins county, Tenn., 
where he assisted iiisfatherin running a large 
flouring mill. On leaving the mill he learned 
the saddler's trade; and at the age of twenty- 
one he went to Russell county, Va., and com- 
menced business at Lebanon, the county 
seat. Hei'e he met and married Sallie T., 
daughter of Garland and Martitia (Thurston) 
Hurt; of this union were born eleven children 
— six sons and five daugiiters. nine of whom 
reached the years of maturity. In the year 
of 1837 he removed from Russell to Tazewell 
county, locating at Thompson's Gap. Intend- 
ing to go to Oregon by way of the overland 
route — the only way at that time — he turned 
a considerable part of his means into extra 
good horses and wagons. But before he 
succeeded in closing up his business the 
great financial crisis came. Embarrassed by 
his own debts, and that of a friend for whom 
he was surety, he succeeded in meeting his 
own liabilities, but saw his property sold at 
public auction to satisify creditors of the 
man for whom lie had indorsed. Pie was 
broke. When the woi-st of the crash was 
over — being sued, he sued no one — he col- 
lected what he could of his outstanding 
notes and accounts, and bought a small farm 
( 100 acres ) located in Thomi)son Valley. 
Here he endeavored with indifferent success 
to dig a living ,out of the ground. After 



five years' residence on the farm he sold out 
and removed to Piketon, Pike county, Ky. 
Here he worked at his trade, employing only 
two assistants, holding at the same time the 
office of postmaster, to which he was 
appointed soon after his arrival in tlie 
village. In 1S51 he removed to John's Creek 
valley same county, and leasing land, engaged 
in raising grain and stock, in which pursuit 
he was fairly successful until tiie breaking 
out of the civil war, when his property was 
again lost in various ways. In politics he 
was a democrat; in religion a Methodist. He 
was beloved by all, es])eciaily by the young, 
who liked to congregate at the house of the 
kind and genial man. He was at one time 
a slave holder, the property coming from 
his wife's estate; but he always thought the 
system a curse. 

In the stormy days of secession, he took 
the field as a campaign speaker; being well 
read in history, more especially the history 
of his own country, his opponent, a young 
man of the legal profession, soon learned that 
the quiet farmer, who knew how to grind 
wheat, make a saddle, or lead a meeting, also 
knew how to make a speech. On one occa- 
sion, after the speeches had been delivered, a 
man walked up to Mr. Bogaranil struck him 
over the head with a cane. The l)low stunned 
him, but recovering himself, Mr. Bogar 
walked away, got on his horse and went to 
the next precinct, telling people that the 
blow was their best argument. 

On the breaking out of the war he enlisted 
in the fourteenth Regiment, U. S. Infantry, 
serving about three months, principally as a 
scout, and was then discharged for disability. 
Mr. Bogar's sons, like liimself, were strong- 
Union men. Joseph, the oldest, cast one of 
the two Lincoln votes in Pike county, Ky., 
Moses H., the second son, enlisted in the 
same regiment as tiie father, and at the same 
time. John G., the third son, only a lad, 
later enlisted in the Thirty-Xinth Kentucky. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



261 



In 1866, Mr. Bogar came to Minnesota 
bringing most of his family with him, and 
located on section 2, Collinwood, where he 
lived until the time of his death, November 
1, 1S6S. The widow still lives on the home- 
stead, and Mrs. C. A. Pauley, her daughter, 
has lived with her most of the time. 



ANDREW W. EKLUND is one of the 
leading and most successful farmers 
and stock-raisers in Danielson township, 
being a resident of section 5, in that subdi- 
vision of Meeker county. He comes from 
the same sturdy race which forms such a 
in Meeker C(junty's pojiula 



large element 



tion, having been born in Sweden on the 
31st of March, 1846, being a son of John and 
Bertha Olson. lie I'emained in his native 
land until 1869, Avhen he came to the United 
States, and, shortly after his arrival, he set- 
tled in Michigan, where he was employed in 
the iron mines and where he remained about 
seven years. At the expiration of that 
time, thinking that he could better his con- 
dition, financially and otherwise, he came to 
Meeker county, Minn., and purchased a 
farm on section 5, in Danielson township, 
where he has since lived. He now has a 
splendid farm of 160 acres, upon which he 
has put excellent improvements, having 
erected a fine house, barn and other farm 
buddings. Mr. Eklund is in very comfort- 
able circumstances, and he owes all he has 
to his own efforts and industry, as he was al- 
most penniless when he came to the United 
States, his sister having advanced him the 
money witli whicli to pay his fare. Since 
coming to Meeker county he has lost several 
crops through the grasshoppers, but, con- 
sidering everything, he has been very suc- 
cessful and is now in comfortable circum- 
stances. In political matters Mr. Eklund 
affiliates with the democratic party. He 



takes a commendable interest in educational 
matters, and has held the office of school 
treasurer for eight years. 

Mr. Eklund was mari'ied on the 24th of 
June, 1870, to Miss Sophia Larson, a daugh- 
ter of Lars and Bertha Olson, who was born 
on the 18th of December, 1849. Their mar- 
riage has been blessed with three children, 
as follows — Anna Sophia, born May 4, 1871 ; 
Mary Josephina, born April 28, 1873; and 
Charles William, born July 23, 1882. 



SHARLES A. GREENLEAF, tlie junior 
member of the firm of W. H. 
Greenleaf & Son, lumber dealers of Litch- 
field, is, in the opinion of his fellow towns- 
men, one of the most promising young busi- 
ness men of the village. He was born in 
Meeker county, Minn., Oct. 27, 1861, and is 
the son of Hon. "William H. Greenleaf, one 
of the most influential and leading citizens 



of the county. In his younger days, 
Charles received his primary education in 
the primitive log cabin school houses of the 
period, around whose rugged walls fond 
memories throw the glamom- of boyhood's 
halcyon days. After the family removed to 
Litchfield, our subject commenced a more 
advanced course of scliooling, finishing with 
a course in the excellent high school of 
Litchfield, and was graduated with the first 
class to finish in that institution. He at 
once assumed a position in his father's place 
of business and continued in his employ 
until attaining his majority in 1SS2, when 
he entered into the present firm. He is also 
engaged in the real estate business, owning 
and controlling an addition to the city of 
Minneapolis, in connection with H. S. Bran- 
ham ; and also an addition to the village of 
Litchfield, in company with others. 

January 18, 1887, Mr. Greenleaf was 
united in marriage with Miss Hattie D. 



262 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Campbell, a native of Manchester, Conn., but 
reared in Hartford, the same State. Mr. 
Greenleaf is a careful business man and 
occupies a prominent place in the estimation 
of his fellow citizens. He is at the present 
a moniljer of tiie village council, represent 
ino; the first ward. 



-^S^^^-»- 



^^^ARL SCHULTZ, a prominent old set- 
^^^ tier of Meeker count}', residing on 
section 23, in Harvey township, was born 
in the western part of Prussia, on the 
2-l:th of JMay, 1880. He remained in his 
native land during his boyhood days, and 
until tlie 1st of April, 185-4, when he sailed 
for America, landing in the city of New 
York on the 17th of May. Two days later 
he went to Chicago, and remained near that 
city, working in a lime-kiln for about two 
months. Chicago was then only a small 
village. From tliere he went to the pineries 
of Northern Michigan, and remained there 
until 1855, when he returned to Chicago. 
In October, 185(), he started for Meeker 
county, Minn., landing at Forest City on the 
1st of November, 1S5(), and remained there 
until the 10th of the following May. He 
then went to Minnea])olis and worked dur- 
ing the summer on a farm near by, for R. 
P. Russell. The following winter he worked 
near Forest City, getting out fence rails. In 
the meantime, on the 1st of November, 
1856, he had taken a preemption on section 
23, Harvey township, and during the sum- 
mer of 1858 he put in some cro])s and 
worked on the place, remaining upon it until 
the spring of 1862, when he went to ilinne- 
apolis, where he worked at the mason's trade 
until the following October. He then re- 
turned to Harvey, remained about a month 
and went to Fort Snelling, where, on tiie 
10th of December, 1863, he enlisted in Com 
pany D, Second Minnesota Cavalry. He 
served in the Northwest, was with the Sully 



expedition and remained in the service until 
the 1st of September, 1865, when he was 
discharged on account of sickness, and re- 
turned to Harvey townsijip, where his 
brother Rudolph was living. He re- 
mained with his brother during the winter, 
until lie was able to walk again, and then 
went to Minneapolis and spent the summer 
workino- on the Russell farm. Tlie ensuintr 
winter was spent in Harvey, and the follow- 
ing summer he was engaged at mason work 
at Minnea])olis. Then, in the fall of 1867, 
he returned to Harvey and lias since made 
this his home. 

On the 17th of November, 1867, he was 
married to Miss Minna Tiieile, and the 
fruits of their union have been five children, 
all of whom are still living, as follows — 
Louisa, Ida, Clara, Minnie and Carl. Mr. 
and Mrs. Schultz are active members of the 
Lutheran Church and devout Christians. 
Mr. Schultz has taken an active interest in 
all matters calculated to benefit his town- 
shij), and is one of the most substantial and 
highly respected citizens of the county. 

It may be of interest to state that Mr. 
Shultz's farm-house was used as headquarters 
by the Indians when the attack was made on 
Forest City in 1862. 



m\ ARCELLUS GREENWOOD, one of 



'c\ir^ the " brave boys in blue,'' now liv- 
ing in Forest Prairie township, on section 
26, came to the count}' in 1881, and bought 
eighty acres of land of Michael Flynn, 
where he now lives. He was born in St. 
Lawrence county. New York, August 25, 
1832, and is the son of Carlos and Rosa 
Ann (Duquet) Greenwood, natives of Canada, 
who emigrated to New York in 1830, where 
they made their home until 1866. The 
mother died in the Empire State, after which 
the fatlier of our subject removed to Sibley 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



265 



county, Minn. Marcellus was married, 
October 12, 1853, to Miss Rosaiina Gesiner, 
who is also a native of St. Lawrence countj', 
N. Y., and by this union there has been 
born a family of twelve children — Libby, 
Mary, Allen, Frank, Emma, Louisa, Sophia, 
Edward, Stephen, Jerome, Rosa and Maggie. 
All the children are married except the last 
iive. In his political views Mr. Greenwood 
coincides with the I'epublican party. His 
family are zealous members of the Roman 
Catholic church. 

During tiie late civil war, December 28, 
1863, our subject enlisted in Company M, 
Eighteenth New York Cavalry, and served 
■with that gallant re^'iment, being- transferred 
to Company I, until May 31,1866,when he was 
mustered out of service at Victoria, Texas, 
and returned to his home. His service was 
chiefly performed in Virginia, the regiment 
being attached to the Army of the Potomac. 



UGUST DAVIDSON, a farmer on sec- 
tion 18, Acton township, is one of the 
pioneers of Minnesota, having settled within 
its boundaries while it was yet a territory. 
Mr. Davidson is a son of David and Kate 
Nelson, and was born in Sweden on the 1st 
of June, 1838. He came to the United States 
in 185-1-, and came direct to Chisago county, 
Minnesota He remained there a few weeks 
and then went to Wisconsin, where, for two 
years, he was em]iloyed by one man in farm- 
ing, after which he worked another year for 
a neighboi'. He then went to the pineries 
and was employed at lumbering and "on the 
drive" until the fall of 1S(U, when he enlisted 
in Company D, Third Minnesota Vohmteer 
Infantry. They were sent South for service 
and participated in several skirmishes but not 
in any pitched battle. After a year's service, 
the war closed and being honorably dis- 
charged he returned to the pineries of Wis- 



consin, where he worked until the spring of 
1868. During that spring he came to Meeker 
county, Minn., and bought land in Acton 
township. He at once began farming, and 
has since made this his home. He has been 
very successful and now owns 270 acres of 
land, and has it improved with substantial 
farm buildings. He does a general farming 
and stock-raising business. 

Mr. Davidson was married on the 25th of 
June, 1868, to Matilda Anderson, and their 
union has been blessed with the following 
named children — Levi, born May 20, 1869; 
George, born November 11, 1875; Clara, born 
June 0. 1882; and Arthur, born November 28, 
ISS-t. The famil}' are members of the Swed- 
ish Lutheran Church. In political matters 
Mr. Davidson affiliates with the republican 
party. The parents of Mr. Davidson still re- 
side in Sweden, their native land, while those 
of Mrs. Davidson are residents of Meeker 
county. 



TOHN J. SUNDQUIST, the photographic 
^ artist and notion and clothing dealer of 
Dassel, is a fair representative of the class of 
self-made men who have " climbed the ladder 
rung by rung" to an easy competence. Boi'n 
among the wild and picturesque scenery of 
Sweden, April 28, 1846, the son of John and 
Keser Johnson, his boyhood and youth were 
passed in his native land. His father served 
in the Swedish National Guards, and re- 
mained in that kingdom until his death. 

The subject of our narrative, when about 
twenty-three years of age, feeling the impos- 
sibility of raising himself financially above the 
estate in which he was born in that country, 
determined to seek his fortune in the newer 
countries across the sea, and embarking, 
landed upon the shores of America, and 
made his way to Pepin county. Wis. On his 
arrival there, with but fifty cents in his 
pocket, he was taken down sick, and felt that 



266 



MEEKER COUiVTY, MINNESOTA. 



the foi'tune of the poor emigrant was at a 
very low ebb. As soon as lie recovered, he 
started for I\Iinnesota, and on reaching the 
river, opposite Lake City, had l>nt twentv- 
five cents to his name. Something to eat 
cost fifteen of this, and ten cents to cross the 
river, landed him in Minnesota totally penni- 
less and friendless, and the pi-ospect looked 
dark to him indeed. Instead of sitting down 
to grieve about it, however,- he found work 
with a farmer near Eochester, with whom he 
remained until fall. In the spring of 1870 
he commenced work on the river division of 
the Chicago, Milwankee & St. Paul rail- 
road, grading, and was soon made foreman 
of a gang of men. The following spring he 
went to Scott county, this State, when he 
commenced contracting for grading on the 
Hastings & Dakota railroad, and worked 
hard until the fall, when he went to St. Paul 
and there bought a boarding house and 
saloon which he only ran a short time. 
About the last of 1871, he removed to Car- 
ver county, and took some more contracts 
for grading, and there remained until the 
stoppage of work in 1872. Purchasing some 
land in connection with others, he platted 
and established the village of Norwood, 
where he made his home until 1885, follow- 
ing railroad construction during the summer 
months, and photography in the winters. 
The restless activity that ever prompted him 
to better his condition, induced him in the 
spring of 1885, to sell out his interests in 
Norwood, and remove to Dassel village, 
where he purchased ten acres of ground 
adjoining the town site, where he put up his 
residence. Later the same season, he pur- 
chased some town lots and put up the brick 
store building which he now occupies, laying 
out in these im])rovenients about 84,500. In 
the summer of 1886, Mr. Sundquist ]Hit in a 
stock of drugs, but a few months later dis- 
posed of them and opened a stock of notions, 
to which he added afterwards, clothinj)- and 



boots and shoes. In connection with this 
business he carries on the jihotograiihic art 
gallei'y, the second story being litted n\) foi- 
that business. 

Mr. Sundquist was married in October, 
1871, to Miss Anna Swenson, a native of 
Sweden. Since becoming a citizen of Dassel, 
Mr. Sundquist has taken a dee]) intei'est in 
all matters relating to his ado]ited home, and 
the people, believing that a man who has 
been so successful in his own affairs, would 
be so in the public's, elected him to the posi- 
tion of member of the village board of 
trustees in 1888. 



-«-J: 



Iggp P. NELSON, one of the most promi- 
l^jjD nent and successful business men in the 
count}', is a member of the firm of Nelson, 
Johnson & Larson, dealers in general mer- 
chandise at Litchfield. Mr. Nelson is anative 
of Sweden, born on the 29th of October, 1840, 
and is a son of Nels and Johanna Anderson. 
His early life was spent in the land of his birth, 
but in 1862, with his parents, he embarked 
for America, and after a voyage of eleven 
weeks they landed on the shores of the new 
world and proceeded to St. Paul. It had 
been their intention to settle on Foot Lake, 
in Kandiyohi county, Minn., but, learning of 
the Indian outljrejdv, their plans were changed, 
and shortly afterward B. P. Nelson, our sult- 
ject, went to Galesburg, Knox county. 111., 
where he remained from October, 1862, until 
the following May. AVe next find him in 
Chicago, where he remained for six montiis 
at work in a brickyard. The following win- 
ter was spent in the pineries of Michigan, 
after which he settled at St. Paul, ]\[inn., 
and for two years and a half worked in an 
agricultural warehouse for Bigelow, Murdock 
& Co. After leaving there, for about a year 
he was at various places, principally in iVfec- 
ker county, and in C'ottage Grove, and then 
went to Nicollet county, and started a store 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



267 



at New Sweden. Two yeiirsand a half later 
he sold Ijis business to his biotber in-law, 
John Burke, and came to Litchfield, arriving 
here during the year 1871. Upon his arrival 
he, with his brother, Andrew Nelson, engaged 
in the general mercantile business, and con- 
tinued in it for three years, when the business 
was sold to A. Cairncross. After this our 
subject was engaged in farming and buying 
grain until 1880, when the present firm of 
Nelson, Johnson & Larson was formed, and 
he has since devoted his time to the interests 
of the firm. 

Mr. Nelson was married on the 31st of 
May. 1878, to Emily E. Johnson, and tliey 
are the parents of four children, one of whom 
died in infancy, and the other three — Archie 
E., Clara E. and Bertram C. — are living. 

Mr. Nelson has taken a prominent and 
active interest in all matters of a. public nat- 
ure, and he has been closely identified with 
the growth and development of business 
enterprises of Litchfield. He has been one 
of the directors of the Meeker County Bank 
ever since its organization. 



M, NDREW CARLSON, a successful far- 
jiP^ mer residing on section 17, Greenleaf 
township, was born in Sweden, on the 17tli 
of February, 1825. Ilis ])arents were both 
natives of the same country, and liveti there 
until tlie time of their deaths. Andrew 
learned the carpenter's trade, and woi'ked at 
that and other vocations in his native land 
until 1869, when he sailed for America. 
Shorth' after his arrival he went to Mich- 
igan, where he was employed chiefly at min- 
ing, and remained until 1874, when he came 
to Meeker county, Minn., and })urchased the 
farm in Greenleaf townsliip, where ho has 
since lived. He has a well-cultivated farm 
of 120 acres, and devotes his attention to gen- 
eral farming and stock-raising. Mr. Carlson 



was married, in 1856, to Maria C. Olson, a 
native of Sweden. She bore him two chil- 
dren, and died in Sweden on the 23d of Feb- 
ruary, 1868. The children were Andrew G. 
and Alfred G. Anderson. Andrew was born 
in 1860, and died in infancy-. 

Alfred G. Anderson, the second child, was 
born in Sweden, on the 21st of December, 
1863, and came to America when still a lad, 
with his father, with whom he still lives. 
Alfred was married, on the ■1th of July, 1885, 
to Augusta E. Hagerstrom, and the couple 
have had one child — Elmer T., born May 12, 
1886. 

The father and son are both intelligent, 
progressive citizens. They are prohibition- 
ists in political matters. The family are 
members of the Swedish Baptist Church. 



—^^ 



^UGUST SWANSON.a progressive and 
successful farmer and stock-raiser 
residing on section 17, Cedar Mills township, 
is a native of Sweden, where he was born on 
the 15th of June, 1844. His early life was 
spent in his native land, where he remained 
until he had reached the age of twenty-four, 
and then came to the United States. Upon 
liis arrival he went to Marquette County, 
Mich., where he secured work in the iron 
mines. He remained there for about five 
years, and then started West, and on March 
13, 1874, in company with his brother, Fred 
Swanson, he arrived in Meeker county, 
Minn., and together they purchased the farm 
which had been originally taken by J. V. 
Branhara, in the northern part of Greenleaf 
tow'nship. August lived there with his 
brother until 1876, when he sold his interest 
in the place. After that he worked in that 
township for two years, and in 1878 he pur- 
chased the farm on section 17, Cedar Mills 
township, where he still resides, erecting the 
house in which he lives, in 1880. He has a 



268 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIKNESOTA. 



valuable farm of 200 acres, a good sliare of 
wliicli is under cultivation, and luis substan- 
tial and comfortable building improvements. 
He devotes his attention extensively to stock- 
raising in connection with his fanning, and 
bv his integrity, industry and eiiterpi'ise he 
has gained the reputation dI' l)eing one of the 
most substantial and most highly respected 
citizens of the township. 

Mr. Swanson was mari'ied, Novend)er 24, 
1879, to Mrs. Christina Erickson, a native of 
Sweden, who was born October 7, 1832. 



fOHN C. KRUGER, a prominent and rep- 
resentative citizen of Ellsworth town- 
ship, living on section 8, came to this county 
May 27, 18G2, and settled on section 8 of the 
same town, where he remained until the 
Indian outl)reak that fall. At that time lie 
went to Forest City, Kingston, and Clear- 
water, but soon came back and remained 
that winter in Forest City. In the spring he 
moved to a farm in that vicinity, and from 
there after one season spent in Greenleaf 
township, came to his present residence, where 
he took up eighty acres under the homestead 
law, to which he has added some 300 acres, 
and now has an excellent farm. 

Mr. Kruger was born in the northern ]iart 
of Germany, May 1, 1815, and is the son of 
Charles D. Kruger, who was the parent of 
five children — four besides our subject — 
AVilliain, Herman, Charles and Mary, the 
latter the widow of John Putzer, of Green- 
leaf. 

Mr. Kruger remained in the "fatherland" 
until 1851, when he sought in free America 
the chance for achievinga competency denied 
in the land of his birth, so down-trodden is 
it by military despotism, lie located in 
Illinois, where he remained until coming to 
iVIinnesota. Before leaving his native coun- 
try, October 20, 184(;, he was united in mar- 



riage with Miss Mary Long, a native of the 
same Emjiire, a daughter of Fred Long. She 
was born March 20, 1824. By this union there 
have been born five children, as follows — 
Charles, Ferdinand, Mary, Minnie and Lizzie. 
In his political I'aitli Mr. Kruger strongly 
clings to the I'cpublican doctrines, and sup- 
ports the camlidates of that party. 



^«.-. 



l^RANK M' INTYRE, a well-to-do and 
'JP^ prosperous farmer of Manannah town- 
ship, lias his beautiful home upon section 26, 
and is surrounded by his magniticent estate of 
440 acres of as fine land as any in the county. 
He is a native of County Cavan, Ireland, born 
May 12, 1832, and'is the son of James and 
Mary (Clark) Mclntyre. He remained in the 
land of his birth until nineteen years 
of age, when perceiving the impossibility of 
e'ettin<i: ahead in that landlord ridden land, 
he emigrated to the New World, landing 
in New York city, staying there a year; in 
the fall of 1852, came West, and located in 
Joliet, 111., where he was employed in the 
stone quarries until 1865. a good share of the 
time as foreman. In the meantime, however, 
he spent four months in Cuba, laying the 
first street-car tracks in Ilavanna. 

In June, 1863, Mr. Mclntyremadeatrip to 
Meeker county Avith the intention of taking 
up a homestead. Part of the way was made 
on foot, notwithstanding the warnings 
and expostulations of the parties along the 
line of his mai'ch. as there was a fresh Indian 
scare that summer growing out of the 
killing of Captain Cady. Arriving at Forest 
C;itv, the water was too high to cross, so on 
the advice of F. McCusker, he decided to take 
a homestead on section 26. This was the 
first claim made north of the Crow river. 
He returned to St. Cloud, and filed his entry 
on the homestead, and returned to Joliet, 
i where he staid until 1865. In Julv of that 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



269 



year he brought his family by team as far as 
LaCrosse and tiien he returned to Joliet to 
finisii some work. The family continued 
their journey from LaCrosse in company with 
his wife's Ijrothers and father,a,nd upon arriv- 
ing here the wife stayed with the McCusker 
family — (her brother-in-law). A cabin was 
commenced on Mclntyre's claim, which was 
the first house erected in the townshij) north 
of the Crow river. October 18 thecabin was 
raised — those who helped being James and 
Peter Mclntyre, Owen Quinn, Peter McMa- 
hon, Fergus McCusker, Edward Murphy, 
Michael and James McNulty and possibly a 
few others. Mrs. Mclntyre cooked their din- 
ner under an oak tree. On the 22d of Novem- 
ber Mr. Mclntyre arrived and at once began 
finishing the cabin, but it was not finished 
with doors, etc., until the 20th of December. 
In the meantime, however, they decided to 
occupy the cabin, so he waded the river and 
brought over his wife and they accoi'dingly 
"moved in." One of their first mishaps was 
the loss of their only pan of bread dough 
which their dog made a meal of, and Mr. 
Mclntyre had to go hungry until his wife 
went to McCusker's for more provisions. 
During the following winter, 1865-6, he 
completed his stable, finishing it about dark 
New Year's dav. His horses refused to "'o 
into it for the fii'st time in the dark, so he was 
obliged to blanket them and let them stand 
outside till daylight. A storm -came ujj 
which made it severe for the dumb animals, 
but they could not be forced into their new 
quarters until light gave them confidence. 
As he was the first settler on that side of the 
Crow river, he was often cut of? from neigh- 
bors by high water. He at once went to 
work to develop the place, and from this 
humble beginning, by incessant labor, natur- 
al business tact, and commendable frugahty, 
has built up his present fortune. Mr. Mcln- 
tyre devotes considerable attention to stock, 
having now a, Hne herd of al)out sixty head 



of cattle, besides horses. His building im- 
provements are among the finest in the town- 
ship, being surrounded by a fine natural 
grove. 

Tiie subject of this sketcii was married 
August 20, 1856, to Miss Mary McXulty, a 
native of County Tyrone, Ireland, who is the 
mother of four children as follows — Mary, 
born May 9, 1857 ; James P., born March 9, 
1859; Charles F., born December 6, 1862 ; and 
Rosa A., born August 25, 1864. 

The first Catholic services in the township 
were held in the log cabin referred to above, 
by Father Anthony, of the Benedictine 
Order. This was on the 3d of August, 1866, 
when Michael McNulty, the father of Mrs. 
Mclntyre, died. 



Iffir/ ILLIAM H. SEGAR, a prominent 



ymd.. and influential agriculturist of Dar- 
win township, is a representative of the 
thrifty, progressive and enterprising New 
England people, who have pushed their way 
through every obstacle, in every clime and 
every land, and have carried with them 
everywhere the civilization and progress of 
their forefathers, as well as that of the 
present age. 

Mr. Segar was born in Massachusetts, July 
7, 1832, and is the son of Charles H. and 
Ursula (Taylor) Segar, both of whom have 
passed to their reward beyond the grave. 
In his New England home our subject was 
reared, and there received the education 
which is the birtiiright of every citizen of 
that portion of our great Republic. In Jan- 
uary, lS5-t, he left the barren soil of the " Old 
Bay State," and came to the fertile West,, 
settling in Jackson county, Iowa. Two- 
years later, finding that part of the State too 
hilly for him, he removed to Jones county,, 
the same State, where he remained some two 
or three years. Monroe et)unty was the 
next scene of his labors, but in 1S68 he re- 



270 



MEEKER CO UN T J ', A/fNNESO TA . 



moved to the Missouri slope of Iowa, and 
settled ill Monona county, where he remained 
until about 1870, when he came to Meeker 
county. He at first settled on section 4, in 
Darwin township, but four years later moved 
to Kingston, and aftei' spending some time 
in the various villages in the county, returneii 
to Darwin and located on section 6, where he 
now lives. 

August 5, 1858, Mr. Segar was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary A. Lewis, a native 
of Vermont, and daughter of Moses and 
Julia Lewis. By this union there have been 
eleven children, as follows — Charles D., 
Eudora, Lulu M., Anna, Frank E., Harry S., 
Ernest E., Emmett E., Bessie P., Freddie and 
Samuel G. The four first named were born 
in Monroe county, Iowa ; Frank in Monona 
county, same State, and the rest in Meeker 
count}', Minn. 

In political matters Mr. Segar affiliates 
with the ])rohibition party, his views coin- 
ciding with the princij)les of that organiza- 
tion. 

^M^NDREW O. LAWSON, senior mem- 
_^S^ ber of tiie general merchandise firm 
of A. O. Lawson & Co., one of the leading 
merchants of Grove City, was born in 
Sweden, November 3, 1855, and is the son of 
Lasse and Christina Ostradson. In 1872 he 
crossed the ocean in search of fortune and 
hai)piness, and for a time was engaged in 
taking care of and driving the carriage horses 
of a business man in Minneapolis. During 
the summer of that year he came to Acton 
township and worked in the harvest fields of 
this locality, and s})ent the following winter 
here in attending school. In the spring he 
retui-netl to Minneapolis, where he was vari- 
ously employed for some two years. Ketui'U- 
ing to Meeker county lie entered the employ 
of Peter E. Hanson, witii wiiom he remained 
five years. In the spi'ing of 1881, in com- 



pany with O. H. Peterson, he started in the 
grocery trade in Grove City, but sold out to 
his partner in the fall, and made a tri]i to the 
Innne of his boyhood, and returning in the 
spring he again engaged with P. E. Hanson 
in the real estate business, where he remained 
some two years. About that time the pres- 
ent firm of A. O. Lawson & Co. was formed 
between him and T. G. Foi'ster, since which 
time they have been engaged in this line. 

]VIr. Lawson was united in marriage, Octo- 
ber If), 188-1:, with Miss Betsey Larson, the 
daughter of Ole Larson, of this county, and 
they have been the parents of two children — 
Cora, born September 7, 1885 ; and Jose- 
phine, whose birth occurred February 25, 
1887. 

In his political views Mr. Lawson is en- 
tirely independent of party lines, preferring 
to cast his l)allot for the best men or the best 
measures, irrespective of political platforms 
or dictates. 

— —'«-5^^ -'*■—- 

^M LEX CAIRNCROSS, the head of the 
^Ip^ lirui of Cairncross A: Palm, of Litch- 
fiekl, is a native of Scotland. When he was 
about twenty-five years of age he came to 
America with his jjarents, and the latter pur- 
chased a farm in Sibley county, Minn. Alex 
Cairncross followed steaml)oat building, to- 
gether with carpentering, for some years ; 
later he settled at St. Paul, and was for some 
time engineer in the International Hotel in 
that city. In about the year 1870 he came 
to Meeker county antl opened a general store 
at Darwin, where he remained until 1874, 
when he came to Litchfield and bought out 
the business of the Nelson Bros. Three years 
afterward he sold his interests here and re- 
turned to his native land, and later spent 
some time in traveling tiirough the East. 
He tiien returned to Litchfiei<i, and again 
entered the mercantile trade. In 1885 John 
Palm became a partner with Mr. Cairncross 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



271 



in this business. In 1882 Mr. Cairncross 
opened a boot and shoe store, the only ex- 
clusive boot and shoe store in the village. 
He has always taken an active interest in all 
matters calculated to aid in the development 
of his village or county, and has a large in- 
terest in the woolen mills and also in the 
creamery. He is president of the Meeker 
County Bank, in which he is a stockholder, 
and he is otherwise heavily interested in 
jjroperty here. 

• •♦ > • -^Sg^' < *• ■ 

^,\iANlEL JACKMAN. The gentleman 
t^/ of whom this article is written, a 
leading agriculturist of Cosmos township, is 
one of the early settlers of 1867. In that 
year he came here and took up a homestead 
upon section 26. He returned to Minneapo- 
lis the following spring, but immediately re- 
turned here, and has made this his home 
ever since. 

Mr. Jackman is a native of Kennebec coun- 
ty, Me., born April 5, 1822, and is the son of 
Eben and Hannah (Hutchinson) Jackman, 
both of whom were also natives of the " Pine 
Tree State." Both of his grandfathers 
served in the continental army during the 
struggle for independence, and after their 
term of service had expired, settled in Maine, 
and there died. Eben Jackman, who was a 
farmer, also lived and died in the same local- 
ity. For a number of years after reaching 
his eighteenth year, our subject was engaged 
in the pineries of Maine and Canada, taking- 
charge of the lumber camps, etc. In 18.58 
he came to Minneapolis, and went into the 
logging business towards the headwaters of 
the Mississippi, and i-enuiined there for seven 
years. In 1865 hegave up the lumbering busi- 
ness and renting a farm near Minneapolis, 
remained there three years engaged in farm- 
ing. He then came to Meeker county, as 
above mentioned. On his return ]\[ay 4, 
1868, he brought his famil}', and putting up 



his house, made a permanent settlement. In 
1877 he made a trip to the Black Hills, and 
spent the season in gold mining, but returned 
in the fall. 

Mr. Jackman is the oldest resident settler, 
all the others having passed from this world 
or moved to other localities. On his arrival 
here, until he could get up his house, he lived 
in a tent, and cooked at an open fire. When 
the township was organized, the first election 
was held at the house of our subject. He 
was elected the first chairman of the board 
of supervisors and served as such some three 
years. 

Mr. Jackman and Annette K. Page were 
united in marriage February 15, 1852. The 
lady is a native of Bangor, Me. By this 
union there have been born four children — 
Frank P., EUra P., Lettie G. and Mabel M. 
Fi'ank is the proprietor of the American 
house at Hector, and the I'est are at home. 



OBERT N. DAMUTH.oneof theintel- 
\i^ ligent anti thonnigh-going agricultur- 
ists of the town of Kingston, having his 
home on section 22, where he located on 
coming to the county in 1868, is a native of 
the State of J^ew York. He was born in 
Jefferson county February 8, 1820, and is 
the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Weaver) 
Damuth. He is of Holland Dutch ancestry, 
his grandfather coming from that country 
and settling where the city of Utica now 
stands, erecting his log cabin there, the first 
building on the town plat. 

Our subject was reared in that part of the 
country, receiving his education in the excel- 
lent disti'ict schools provided by the Empire 
State for the rising generation, anil assisted 
his father in the labors of the farni until he 
had attained his majority. At that time he 
commenced life for himself, finding employ- 
ment on the Erie Canal, where he remained 



272 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



some ten years or more, after which he re- 
moved to Marquette count}', Wis., and set- 
tled on a farm, where he made his home for 
four years. From that place he removed to 
Cokimbia county, in the same State, but a 
few years later came to Minnesota, and set- 
tled in Dakota county, whence, in ISfiS, he 
came to Meeker county. 

August 30, 18-i3, Mr. Damuth and Miss 
Emily Eliza Stone were united in marriage. 
His life companion is a native of Oswego 
county, N. Y., born January 23, 18:^7, and 
the daughter of Philo and Eliza L. (Scott) 
Stone, natives of Rhode Island and Connecti- 
cut respectively. By this .union there have 
been born a family of ten children — Madison, 
Myron W., Ellen E., Edwin S., Emily E., 
Margaret, Eliza, Carrie A., Addie M. and 
Robert N., Jr. The death angel has taken 
all but the last two named, and there are 
many vacant chairs around the domestic 
hearth. 

In his politics Mr. Damuth is a democrat, 
but has had no political aspirations. He 
has always taken a great interest in educa- 
tional matters. 

JTOSEPH HUBBARD, postmaster at Crow 
SI river, e.K-county commissioner, and one 
of the most successful and prominent farmers 
and stock-raisers of Meeker county, is a resi- 
dent of section 33, Union Grove township. 

Mr. Hubbard is a son of Joseph and Mer- 
riam (Biownjllubbard, and was born on the 
27th of May, 1820. He commenced life for 
himself when about nineteen years of age, 
first working in a cotton factory at Three 
Rivers, Mass., remaining there until he was 
twenty-seven years of age. He then traveled 
through the country canvassing for news- 
papers until 185i, when he came to Minne- 
sota, and prer-mptod 160 acres of land in 
Scott county. He lived there for twelve 
years and then sold out and settled at 



Shakopee, where he remained for four years 
engaged at teaming. In 1869 he came to 
Meeker county and purchased a farm of 240 
acres in Union Grove township, and has since 
made this his home. Besides liis residence 
he has a small store building in which he 
keeps quite a large assortment of goods for 
the accommodation of the neighborhood and 
also the postoffice. In connection with his 
general merchandise he also handles a lim- 
ited line of agricultural implements, ]ilows, etc. 
He has one of the most valuable farms in the 
township, and it is well arranged for diversi- 
fied farming and stock-raising, which he car- 
ries on. Mr. Hubbard has taken an active 
interest in public matters, and no man in 
the northern jiortion of the county is more 
prominently identified with the official his- 
tory of the county than is he. For the past 
twenty-five years he has held the office of 
justice of the peace, both here and at his 
former place of residence. For six years he 
was a member of the board of county cora- 
missionei's, and during that time was one of 
the most influential members of that body. 
During the war he was deputy provost 
marslial. 

Mr. Hubbard was married in April, 1842, at 
Northfield, Mass., to Gratia Field, a daughter 
of Oliver and Rhoda Field. Slie died in 
October, 1864, leaving three childi'en, as fol- 
lows — Emma, born Jan. 21,1844; Edward J., 
born Fel). 1, 1847 ; and Crissa, born in Decem- 
ber, 1857, died in January, 1864. Emma 
married Abner S. Marshall, and they live in 
Union Grove; they have five ciiildren — Jos- 
eph B., Mabel C, Lewis C, Frank F., and 
Anna H. Edward J. married Fidelia Nich- 
ols, and they live in McPherson county. Dak.; 
they have four children — George A., Charles 
E., Addie L., and Linna L. 

Mr. Hubbard's second marriage occurred 
in April, 1866, when he was wedded to JNlrs. 
Mianda McKinney, formerly ]\Iiss Hidden. 
By her nuirriage with Frederick McKinney 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



275 



, she had had five children, as follows — William 
O., George F., Fannie, Edwin A., and Ever- 
son E. Fannie and William are dead. Mrs. 
Mianda Hubbard died in June, 1870. Mr. 
Hubbard's present wife was the widow of 
Samuel McCoy, formerly Miss Elisabeth 
Haseltine. They have two adopted children — 
Ida and Oliver. 

In 1S7G the First Universalist Church of 
Crow river was organized, and Mr. Hubbard 
was chosen deacon, he having been for years 
a believer in that faith. 

Politically Mr. Hubbard has been a repub- 
lican ever since the birth of that ]iarty, and 
has cast his ballot for every republican nom- 
inee for president up to date. 

He has always been a constant reader and 
patron of republican literature. Believing 
that the boys of to-day will be the men of 
to-morrow he has liberally su]ip!ied his own 
family with the best of literature, which has 
been almost a circulating library in his neigh- 
borhood. 

■ < »• • 



P- REDERICK ADAMS, one of the hard- 
■ working agriculturists of Collinwood 
townsliip, living upon section 1, is a native 
of Hampshire, England, born September 7, 
1839, and is the son of Henry and Mary 
(Marsh) Adams. His parents were of the 
class of sturdy yeomen of Alljion that 
have made that island so famous in history, 
and were born, like their forefathers, in that 
Empire. From tlie time he was about seven 
years old, our subject was emjiloyed in farm- 
labor until leaving his native land. May 29,. 
1860, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Eliza Forder, who was born, also, in Hamp- 
shire December 9, 1S38. She is the daughter 
of George and Elizabeth (Bo wen) Forder. 
Her father, a native of same country, was 
born May 17, 1804, came to America in April, 
J871, and died November 31, 1881. Her 
mother died in England, in 1858. 



Mr. Adams, appreciating the im]irobability 
of his acquiring a competency in his native 
land, determined to seek his fortune in the 
United States, the land of the free, and 
accordingly, on the 6th of April, 1871, bid- 
ding adieu to " White-cliffed Albion," he 
sailed for America, and after a pleasant and 
easy voyage, landed at New York, April 17, 

1871. On the 21st of the same month, he 
reached the home of AVilliam Forder, in 
Indiana. He remained in that State, em- 
ployed in a saw mill and on a farm, until the 
following spring, when he came to Collin- 
wood township, this county, where, April 6, 

1872, he purchased forty acres of railroad 
land on section 1, upon which he moved and 
has since made his home. He now has an 
excellent farm of 120 acres in this and sec- 
tion 11, about fifty -five acres of which has 
been cleared of the primeval forest that 
covered it. The first year he was here, he 
was in absolute penury, having but little 
provisions and often suff'ering for the want 
of the necessaries of life. But energy and 
diligence will accomplish much, and he has, 
assisted only by his devoted wife and chil- 
dren, succeeded in turning the point that leads 
to competency and fortune. 

Mr. and Mrs. Adams' marital life has been 
blessed by the advent of four children, as 
follows — William, whose birth took place 
March 31, 1861 ; Elizabeth, born October 26, 
1865; Mary Ann, whose birth dates from 
December 5, 1867; and George Henry, liorn 
August 22, 1871. In liis political views Mr. 
Adams coincides with the republican party, 
and has held the office of road overseer of 
his district for over ten years. 



PROMINENT business man of Meeker 
county is D. Elmquist, watchmaker 
and jeweler, of Litchfield, who is a native of 
Sweden, Ijorn in 1848. His parents were 



276 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



John Magnus Elmquist and Christena John- 
son, botli of whom are now tleceased. Mr. 
Ehnquist connnenced in eai-ly manhood to 
learn the jeweler's trade, at wliich he has be- 
come so proficient. In ISf!',) he came to Min- 
neapolis, Minn., Init a short time later went 
to Wisconsin, where he worked at his trade 
with his brother, P. J. Elm(|uist, with whom 
he i-emained as journeynian until 1S72. He 
then returned to Minneapolis and went into 
business with this brother, and remained 
there four years; then after that he located 
at Litchfield, opening a jewelry store as a 
branch of their Minneapolis store, but later 
on bought out his brother's interest, and still 
continues in that business, carrying a full and 
complete stock of everything in that line. 
Mr. Elmquist was one of the charter mem- 
bers of Litchfield lodge, No. 50, A. O. U. AV., 
and is also an active member of the Litch- 
field fire department. 

Mr. Elmquist was mai'i'ied, February 22, 
1876, to Miss Ida M. Ilultgren, of Minneap- 
olis, and they have been blessed with five 
children, four of whom are still living. The 
names of the survivors are as follows — Emily 
Christine, Minnie, Charles J. and John Ar- 
thur. Mr. and Mrs. Elmquist are prominent 
and zealous members of the Swedish Luth- 
eran Cimrch at Litchfield, and exemplary 
Christian ]ieople. 




j) ICHARD ELLIOTT, an active citizen 
Hjy of Dassel, and the proprietor of the 
G. A. R. House, is one of the veterans of the 
late civil war — 

" Whose faith aud truth 
On war's red touchstone rang true metal." 

He is a native of Eakersville, Vt., born in 
1839, and is the son of William E. and 
Miranda (Harvey) Elliott. 

When Richard was onlv a year old, his 
parents moved to St. Lawrence county, 
N. Y., and, amid the wild scenery of that 



section, our subject was reared until he was 
sixteen years old. About that time the fam- 
ily, tired of the stony soil of the East, came 
with the "star of empire'' and settled in the 
town of Ossian, Winneshiek county, Iowa, 
among the earliest settlers of that county. 
On the 13th of December, 1861, Richard El- 
liottenlisted in CompanyC, Thirteenth United 
States Infantry, and served until December 
12, 1864, when he received his discharge at 
JN'ashville, Tenn. He partici)3ated in some 
nine pitched battles, prominent among 
which were the siege of Yicksburg, Chatta- 
nooga, and Mission Ridge. He was fortun- 
ate enough to escape without a wound 
or scratch, or ever having been in hospital 
after leaving their barracks. On his dis- 
charge, he returned to his home in Iowa, 
but shortly after removed to Fillmore county, 
this State, whither his father had preceded 
him. In 1869 he moved to Stevens county, 
and took up a homestead, where he remained 
until 1876, suffering two years from grass- 
ho])pers, which devoured his crops, and two 
years from drouth, which burned them up. 
These circumstances embarrassed him finan- 
cially, and he traded the farm off for an in- 
terest in the steam saw-mill at Dassel, to 
which {)lace he removed with his family. 
Two yeai-s later he sold his mill interests and 
erected the hotel, which, for a time, he 
leased. In ISSl he took charge of it him- 
self, and has run it ever since. In connec- 
tion, he is considerablv engaoed in buving 
and ship})ing hoo|) jtoles and cordwood. 

Mr. Elliott was united in marriage with 
Miss Sallie L. Huntley, October 8, 1868, in 
'Fillmore county, Minn. The lady is a native 
of Beaver Dam, Wis., and is the mother of 
four children — Mertie, now Mrs. L. Whitta- 
ker, of Cokato ; James D., Jasper, and 
Thoren. Mr. Elliott is quite prominent in 
G. A. R. circles ; was a charter member and 
is the present officer of the guard of Colfax 
Post, No. 133, of the village of Dassel. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



277 



M^NDREW ELOFSON, one of the lead- 
jp>^ ing citizens of Swede Grove town- 
sliip, is a son of Elofson and Bertha Ander- 
son. He was born in Sweden, on the ISth 
of July, 1840. His father died in Sweden, 
in 1855, and in 1857, with his mother, An- 
drew came to the United States. He settled 
in Swede Grove township, Meeker county, 
Minn., in 1857, and this has since been his 
home. The mother and three sons were 
among the first settlers in the township. 
Andrew has a well-tilled and valuable farm 
on section 29, where he carries on general 
farming and stock-raising, and has accumu- 
lated a fair competency. Mr. Elofson's 
mother died in Swede Grove, in 1871. 

Andrew Elofson was married, on the 31st 
of December, 1870, to Miss Sine Peterson, a 
daughter of Hans and Betsy Peterson, resi- 
dents of Swede Grove township. Mr. and 
Mrs. Elofson have been blessed with the fol- 
lowing named cliildren — Matilda, born April 
13, 1873 ; Elmerth, born September 20, 1875 ; 
Morris, born October 4, 1877 ; Mabel, born 
November 1, 1881, antl Alma, born August 
.27, 1886. Mr. Elofson has taken a promi- 
nent part in all matters pertaining to the west- 
ern portion of the county, and has taken an 
active interest in all the township and official 
matters. He has been township assessor for 
the past eighteen years ; has been pathmas- 
ter a number of terms ; chairman of the su- 
pervisors several terms, and has also, at vari- 
ous times, held the offices of town clerk, 
scliool clerk, school treasurer and school di- 
rector. He can certainly be justly termed 
one of the leading and I'epresentative farmers 
of Meeker county. 



PETER J. CONNOLE. a thrifty and en- 
teiprising \'ouiig man who is engaged 
in farming and stock-raising on section 16, 
Harvey township, is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and was born on the ICth of April, 



1865. His parents were Peter and Bridget 
Connole. The father, Peter, was a native of 
Ireland, born November 1, 1830. When 
still young he came to the United States and 
settled in Hollidaysburgh, Blair county, Pa. 
The family remained there until 1872, when 
they removed to Meeker county-, Minn., and 
settled in Harvey township, where they were 
living at the time of the death of the father, 
August 22, 1877. His death was the result 
of a runaway. He had rented a farm in 
Kandiyohi county, and was on his way from 
home to the farm when the sad accident 
occurred, and it was supposed that the 
wagon ran over him. "When found he was 
still living, but so seriously injured that he 
died within eight hours. His death was a 
sad blow to the family, as he was beloved by 
them and respected by all who knew him. 
His widow, who was also a native of Ireland, 
is still living in this township. They had a 
family of nine children, who are still living, 
six boys and three girls. Their names are as 
follows — Thomas W., John C, Mary A., 
Peter J., Katie E., Lillie B., Rodgei", Patrick 
and Martin F. 

Peter J. Connole, the subject of this sketch, 
has followed farming most of his life. He 
i-eceived a common-school education, and 
imbibed the same principles of frugality and 
industi'v which are characteristic of the race 
from which he springs. He is a good man- 
ager and has been very successful in his farm- 
mg operations. In religion he is a Catholic, 
and in political matters he supports the dem- 
ocratic principles. 



BAVID SHEPHERD, an active, promi- 
nent and entei])rising farmer, residing 
on section 29, Greenleaf township, was born 
in Scotland on the 2d of April, isii. He 
can trace his genealogy back through four 
generations, William Shepherd being the 
name of his gi-eat-great-great-grandfather, 



278 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



then James in the next degree. Ilis grand- 
father, Wiliam Shepherd, was born in Scot- 
land about the year ITnC). His fatiier was 
born in tlie same country, and still lives 
there, being now about seventy-one years of 
age. He (David's father) was married in 
1840 to Margaret Ayer, and they were the 
parents of two cliildren — David, our subject, 
and James, who is now living in New Zea- 
land. 

David Shepherd, of whom we write, left 
his native land in 1869 and settled in Can- 
ada, where he remained about one year, and 
then removed to St. I'aul, Minn. After three 
months' residence there he went to Hastings 
and remained a like period, then went to 
Minneapolis. Here he left his family and went 
to Colorado and Nevada, and after a sojourn 
in that region of some fourteen months re- 
turned to Minneapolis. On the 27th of April, 
1879, he arrived in Meeker county, Minn., and 
purchased of Anna McGraw a farm on sec- 
tion 29, Greenleaf township, where he has 
since lived. He now has a valuable farm, 
which consists of about 300 acres of land, 
his buildings being located on the line be- 
tween sections 29 and 32. It is a most de- 
sirable place, containing some forty acres of 
timber, and he has it well stocked. He lie- 
votes his time to diversified farming and 
stock-raising, and well deserves the standing 
which he maintains of l>eing one of the most 
solid and influential farmers in the township. 
In political matters Mr. Shepherd is a re])ub- 
lican, and has taken an active interest in 
affairs of that nature, having held various 
local offices which his fellow-citizens have 
desired him to fill. , He is the present chair- 
man of the township supervisors, and the 
fact that he is the pi-esent treasurer of school 
district No. 34 is evidence of the well-known 
fact that lie takes a commendable interest in 
educational matters. 

On the 5tli of June, ISfiO, :\[i'. Siiepherd 
was married to Ehzabetii Tiionipson, who 



was a native of Scotland. Their union has 
been blessed with the following children, all 
of whom are still living: D. K., born Janu- 
ary 7, 1872; Christina A., born April 28, 
1874; and Maggie S., born March 31, 1879. 

JTaMES LAWTON, one of the pioneers of 
^ Forest Prairie township, came to 
Meeker county in 1867, and took up a home- 
stead on section 32, where he now resides, 
carrying on general farming. He was born 
in Hadley, Saratoga county, N. Y., IVIarch 
19, 1825, and is the son of David and Thank- 
ful (Parraeter) Lawton, the latter a native 
of White Hall, N. Y., and the former of 
Dennison, Vt. During the childliood of 
our subject his father's house was de- 
stroyed by fire, and with it the records of the 
family, so the}' are lost. In January, 1856, 
the mother of our subject died in Lafa^'ette, 
McKean county, Penn., and the father's de- 
cease occurred in 1858. 

James Lawton passed his school days in 
Wa\'ne and Morgan counties, N. Y., with his 
brothers and sisters, whose names were — 
Amos, Iluth, Pollie, Luc}', Davitl, Iluldah, 
Hester, Daniel and Jonathan. In 1846 he 
removed with his parents to Warren county 
Penn., wiiere they lived some six or seven 
years, he being engaged in farming and in 
lumliering. In 1856 he came west and set- 
tled in Shelby county. 111., where he remained 
until August 11, 1862, when, leaving wife and 
family, he enlisted atthecall of jiatriotism, in 
the One Hundred and Fifteentli Illinois Infan- 
try ,and participated in all the skirmishes and 
battles in which his regiment was engaged, 
the principal one being that of Chickamauga. 
He was dischargetl August 14, 1864. on ac- 
count of disability, and returned home. He 
then came to Meeker coimty to look over 
the country, and went back to Illinois, where 
he remained two yeais longer, and then came 
here and settled. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



279 



Mr. Lawtoii was married Mairli i!5, 1859, 
to Miss Mary M. Vermillion, a native of 
Shelby county, 111., where she was married, 
and daughter of James and Jane (Fletcher) 
Vermillion. Her birth took place December 
26, 1842. By this union there has been 
born one son — David E., whose birth took 
place July 26, 1882. Mr. Lawton is a staunch 
republican in ])olitical faith; and has held 
various local offices. He is a prominent and 
zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and class leader of the congregation 
at Forest City. 

«-J^^-<^ 

;LARK L. ANGELL, photographer, is 
one of the pioneers of Minnesota, as 
well as one of tlie first settlers at Litchfield, 
after the village was i)latted. He was born 
in Jefferson countj^ N. Y., in May, 1838, 
and is the son of Nicholas and Aseneth 
Angell. His parents were both natives of 
Vermont, but were removed by their families 
to New York in their childhood. His father 
was enrolled among the brave defenders of 
his country, during the last war with Great 
Britain in 1 812-1815, and it is within the 
recollections of his mother viewing the battle 
ui)on Lake Cham])lain, as they lived at or near 
Plattsburgh. After tiieir marriage the par- 
ents of our sui)ject removed to Jefferson 
county in tlie same State, where the elder 
Mr. Angell died, at the age of sixt\'-one. 
His widow came to Minnesota, where she 
died at the advanced age of eighty -eight. 

Clark L. was reared in the Empire State, 
but at the age of eighteen years commenced 
life for himself, starting for the AVest in 
the fall of 1855, stopping first at Dunlieth, 
111., which was then the terminus of the 
railroad. From there he took a boat up the 
Mississippi river to St. Paul, and the follow- 
ing spring, of 1856, he claimed government 
land near Rockford-, Minn., that being previ- 
ous to the laying out of the village. lie re- 



mained there, impi'oving liis claim, until the 
war broke out, when, in the fall of 1861, in 
response lo the first call for men, he enlisted 
in Company A, Third Minnesota Infantry. 
He sjient a year in the army, serving in 
Tennessee and Kentucky, and was finally 
discharged on account of sickness, and soon 
returned to Minnesota. He then learned 
photography, and spent most of his tinae on 
the road, until the fall of 1869, when he 
settled in Litchfield and opened the art gal- 
lerv, which he still conducts. He at once 
erected a house and brought his family here 
in the spring of 1870. Litchfield has since 
been his home, and he now has one of the 
finest and most complete galleries in this part 
of the State. Mr. Angell is an active mem- 
ber of the Grand Army of the Republic, and 
was one of the charter members of the first 
])Ost organized at Litchfield. He also a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, having 
been one of the charter members of Golden 
Fleece Lodge. No. 89. 



OSES H. BOGAR, who is one of the 
^^jf^ self-made men of Collinwood town- 
ship, lives on section 2. He is a son of Thom- 
as H. Bogar, who is mentioned at length else- 
where in this volume, to whose sketch the 
reader is also referred for much of the person- 
al history of the gentleman whose name 
heads this article. 

Moses H. Bogar was born in Tazewell 
county, Va., November 28, 1842. When 
about seven years of age he removed with his 
parents to Pike county, Ky., where he was 
reared to agricultural pursuits. At the 
bi-ealcing out of the civil war, he enlisted, 
October 25, 1861, in Company H, Four- 
teenth Kentucky U. S. Infantr}^ and went 
into active service, participating in the bat- 
tles of Ganley, Middle Creek, and Half Moun- 
tain, Kentucky; Hagar Gap, Koeler Pole, 



28o 



MEEKEK COUNTY. MINNESOTA. 



Virginia; and Tazewell. Tenn., Altoona, 
Cupp's Farm, and Atlanta, Ga., Jonesboro, 
and various other battles of the campaign. 
He served successively under the following 
generals: Nelson, C4arfield. White. Beard, 
Morgan. Cooper, Ilaskel, Schofield, Sherman, 
and, lastly, Thomas. 

Our subject came to Minnesota Avith his 
fathei' in ISfifi, and settled on section 2, Col- 
linwood. On the 1st of March, 18tl!», he was 
married to Mrs. Mary C. (Graves) Livingston. 
She died in May. 1SS2, leaving six children, 
as follows — Lizzie ilay, born February 18, 
1870 ; Edward G., born July 18, 1871 ; Cyn- 
thia C, born September 9, 1873 ; Joseph 
0.,born February 28. 1876 ; Moses XL, born 
February 2, 1878 ; and John P., born Febru- 
ary 1, 1880. 

On the 13th of December, 18S3, Mr. Bo- 
gar married Caroline, a daughter of Volney 
and Lura (Farrington) Gay, who was born 
Julv 21, 1857. This marriage has been 
blessed with two children — Geneva Blanche 
and Ruth Lillian. 

Mr. Bogar's house was destroyed by fire, 
with most of its contents, April 1, 1888. In 
political matters our subject is an opponent 
of monopoly and is a prohiljitionist. He has 
held several local offices with honor. 

lLAF B. JORGENSON, the efficient 
^^ and trustworthy harness maker of the 
village of Grove City, is a native of Norway, 
born February 26, 1868, and is the son of 
Ove E. and Bertha Jorgenson. He was 
reared in that rugged but picturesque land, 
aniid its bold mountains and velvety vallej's, 
until about sixteen years of age, coming to 
America in 1884. Coming directly to the 
State of Minnesota, after a few days spent at 
Willmar, our suiiject wentto Kirkhoven, and 
worked at the harness maker's trade with his 
brother Oscar, and remained there some five 




months. lie then returned to Willmar and 
worked for an uncle, Martin Jorgenson, at 
the same ti-ade, for about two months, at the 
close of which time he came to Grove City, 
and for nearly two years followed his trade 
with A. II. Lind. In March, 1887, he quit 
work here and went to St. Paul and worked 
for W. II. Konants & Bro.. with whom he 
only staid until October 1st. when he returned 
to Grove City and bought out ]\Ir. i^iiid, and 
commenced business for himself. He has 
always a full and complete stock of all kinds 
of goods in his line, ami Ijeing an excellent 
workman, honest and true, and of pleasant 
manners, he has a large and increasing busi- 
ness. He commenced to learn his trade in 
Norway with his father, who is a harness 
maker, as is the onlj' brother he has in this 
country, who now lives at Benson. 



^.^« 



«^^ 



fAMES H. SHIMIN, a farmer of Kingston 
township, residing upon section 26, 
where he has a nice place, is a native of 
Albany, the cajntal of the State of New York, 
born January 1, 1830, and is the son of John 
and Ann (Corros) Shimin, both of whom first 
saw the light in the Isle of Man, a dependency 
of the British Empire, located in the Irish Sea. 
His parents came to America in 1829, and 
settled in Albany, where they resided many 
years and where the father dieil. In 184-1 
the mother removed to Michigan and made 
her home there until 1867, when she came to 
Minnesota and located in Henne)iin county, 
where she died at the age of eighty four 
years. She was a devout Christian and a 
member of the Episcopal church. 

The subject of this memoir was reared 
upon a farm, and has always followed the 
occui)ation of a farmer. Commencing life 
on his own account in New York State at 
the age of eighteen years, he essayed agi'i- 
culture in the Empire State, but later re- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINXESOTA. 



281 



moved to Michigan, where lie lived until he 
came to Hennepin county, Minn., where he 
made his home until December. 1876, when 
he came to Meeker county, arriving here the 
18th of that month. 

Mr. Shimin was married in January, 18G1, 
to Miss Mary Ann Thomas, a native of Rich- 
mond county, Ind., and daughter of Robert 
Thomas, of tiuit State. She cauie to Hen- 
nepin county, this State, where she was 
united in marriage to our subject, and there 
died December 21, 1863, leaving one child — 
Edgar T., born December 5, 1863. Mr. 
Shimin again contracted a matrimonial alli- 
ance, August 14, 1887, with Miss Maggie 
Francis, a resident of Kingston township, a 
native of Meeker county, this State, and 
daughter of A. J. and II. Francis. 

In his politics Mr. Shimin is a republican 
and is the present treasurer of school district 
No. 33. During the great civil war our sub- 
ject, with commendable patriotism, enlisted 
February 18, 1864:, in Company B, Sixth 
Minnesota Infantry, and served until the 
close of the war with that gallant regiment, 
receiving his discharge August 19, 1865. 
His record wliile carrying a musket is that 
of a loyal and gallant soldier and one " prompt 
to everv dutv's call." 



?i'"-^ M. BECKSTRAND is a Avell-known 
and highly respected farmer, who 
resides on section Id, Greenleaf township. 
He has one of the finest farms in the county, 
and his farm buildings are a credit to the 
township in which he lives. His place con- 
sists of 207 acres of land, a good portion of 
which is under cultivation, and, as he has it 
well stocked, he devotes his time to general 
farming and stock-raising. 

Ml'. Beckstrand is a native of Sweden, and 
was born on the 1st of December, 1849. He 
remained in his native land until the fall of 
1869, when he came to the United States, 



and made his way directl}^ to Greenleaf 
township, Meeker county, Minn., where his 
uncle, John Sampson, was then living. This 
townshij) has been his home ever since. In 
1881 Mr. Beckstrand sent for his parents, 
who were still living in the land of his birth, 
and thej^ tlien came to this country, and are 
now living in Cedar Mills township with one 
of their sons. 

In 1875 the suljject of our sketch was 
married to Bengta Nelson, and their mar- 
riage was blessed with one child, a girl 
named Emma G., who was born in Septem- 
ber, 1878, and who died March 11, 1879, 
and was buried in the Beckville Cemetery. 
Mrs. Beckstrand's parents were natives of 
Sweden ; her father died there, and her 
mother is still living in the Fatherland. Mr. 
and Mrs. Beckstrand are members of the 
Swedish Lutheran church. Mr. B. has taken 
an active interest in public affairs, and has 
for two years been a member of the board of 
supervisors of the towTiship. 



AMUEL A. HEARD. Among the prom- 
inent figures in the history of Litch- 
field, of which he is a resident, is the gentle- 
man whose name heads this sketch, who was 
the pioneer merchant of the place. He was 
born in Newport, Canada, September 6, 1831, 
and is the son of Samuel and Sojjhronia M. 
(AVilliams) Heard, both of whom were natives 
of the same province. He was reared upon 
a farm and remained with his parents until 
his twenty-third year, when he came to the 
United States, and, after a short time spent 
in Illinois and Wisconsin, in the spring of 
1856 came to Minnesota, and settled in 
Wright county, where he located on a farm 
of 160 acres, which he took up on govern- 
ment land, a few miles south of Clearwater. 
The first summer was employed in looking 
after the interests of the Clearwater Town 



232 



MEEKER CO UN 7- Y, MINNESOTA. 



Site Company, and the following wintei- in 
teaching school a sliort distance I'roni tiie 
village. ^Next spring, in company witii a 
Mr. Chase, lio bougiit out tlio mercantile 
establishment of Gibbs & AVhitney, of Clear- 
water, and remained in that business for 
over a year, when, the firm being dissolved, 
Mr. Heard built another store, and again 
entered into trade, and followed it until 
IStil. He had been appoint eil (U'piity post- 
master in 1857, and had ciiarge of the mails 
until 1S61, when, his health failing, he gave 
up liis business altogether, and spent the fol- 
lowing year in ]\[aine and Canada, returning 
to Clearwater in the spring of 1S()2. whei-e 
he passed some time, and later went to Cold 
Springs, where lie rebuiltthe Hour-mill, wiiich 
had been destro\'ed by fire. After gravitating 
between this State and his native home for 
some years, in 1869 he came to Litchfield, 
and, in company with C. D. Ward, opened the 
first store in the embryo village. After con- 
tinuing in the mercantile trade, both with 
his partner and alone, until 1880, Mr. Heard 
then sold out and retired fi-om trade. He 
has large real-estate interests in the village 
still, and stock in the woolen-mills and other 
enterprises in Litchfield, and finds in their 
conservation and improvement sutticient em- 
ployment. In 1S78 he was elected a mem- 
berof the village council, and in 1879 as mayor 
of the place, and served with great credit to 
himself.. He has always been deejily imbued 
with religious ideas, and has always lent a 
helping hand in all church matters. He had 
charge of the erection of the first church edi- 
fice in the village, the Presbyterian, and was 
chairman of the building committee. 

Mr. Heard was united in marriage, Octo- 
ber 1, 1871, with Miss N. 11. iiowen, a native 
of Chenango county, N. Y., and daughter of 
Luther and Martha (Hatch) Bowen, both of 
whom are natives of Connecticut, and both 
of whom were among the iii'st settlers of 
that region, settling there in 1785. Mr. 



Heard is a ])rominent meml)erof the Ancient 
Oi'derof United Workmen, and is one of the 
Past Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of 
this State. 

Dui'ing the civd war J\lr. Heard was ap- 
|)ointed ensign of Company A, Nineteenth 
Regiment, M. V. M. He assisted in raising 
a company for service in 1861, and was to 
have gone with them, but ])oor health induced 
the doctor to order his remaining at home, 
much to his I'egret. 

Mr. Heard has always been prominently 
identified with the best interests of the vil- 
lage. He was a charter member and is the 
master workman of the Litchfield Lodge of 
Ancient Order of United Workmen. 



-^-S^^-<- 



i^HARLES H. ATKINSON, a young and 
>^y enterprising farmer of Forest City 
township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born 
May 7, 1855, and is the son of Hon. James 
B. Atkinson, one of the pioneers of Meeker 
county, a sketch of whom is given in the 
pages of this Album. Charles came to this 
county with his father's family in 1857, and 
here resided until about eighteen years of 
age, when lie went to Minneapolis to read up 
in the higher branches of studies, in the 
Union School. Returning from there he en- 
tered the office of Hon. A. C. Smith, with 
whom he read law, but finally abandoned 
that and settled down upon a farm, whei'e he 
now lives. He has been the incumbent of 
several township offices, first filling that of 
assessor foi' some two years; and then that 
of justice of the peace for a like term, antl 
now is the present chaiiinaii of the town 
board of su]iervisors. 

Mr. Atkinson and Miss Ida Mitchell 
plighted their mutual vows at the marriage 
altar, June 27, 18S2. The lady is the daugh- 
ter of David Mitchell, one of the oldest set- 
tlers of this county, and whose memoir can 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



285 



be found in this volume. By tliis union there 
have been born two ciiiklren — Stella Eliza- 
beth and Charles Herbert. Mr. Atkinson, 
following the traditions of the familv, is a 
staunch democrat, politically. 



"OHN E. ZACKRISON, a respected farm- 
er, residing on section 17, Cedar Mills 
township, has been a resident of Meeker 
county since 1S75. He is a native of Sweden, 
and was born January -i, ISiT. His early life 
was spent in the land of his birth, Avhere he 
remained until he was twent3'-one years of 
age, when he came to the United States and 
settled in Marquette county, Mich. "While 
there he was employed in iron mining, con- 
tract drilling and various other lines of work. 
'After he had been there five years he rented 
a farm and engaged in the milk and dairy 
business. Two years later, in the spring of 
1875, he sold out his interests there and came 
to Meeker county, Minn. Upon his arrival 
he purchased a farm of 316 acres in the town 
of Greenleaf, and remained on that for three 
years. He met with a number of serious 
reverses. The first year he had a very fair 
crop ; the second year he did not raise over 
five bushels to the acre; and the third year 
he lost all his grain on account of the grass- 
hopper depredations. These misfortunes 
proved a severe setback to him and resulted 
in the loss of his farm, upon which he had 
paid $1,500 in cash. During the summer of 
1878 he remained in Greenleaf townshij), 
working for various parties, and in the fall 
of the same year he purchased the farm on sec- 
tion 17, Cedar Mills townsiiip, upon which he 
still resides. He now owns 160 acres of land, 
a good share of which is under cultivation, 
and devotes his time and energies to raising 
stock and doing general farming. His enter- 
prise, industry and economy have again placed 
him in comfortable circumstances, notwith- 



standing the severe reverses and misfortunes 
through which he has passed, and he now 
ranks as one of the substantial and leading 
farmers of his township. 

Mr. Zackrison was married on June 19, 
1869, at Xegaunee, Mich., to Miss Caroline 
Swanson, who is also a native of Sweden. 
She was born on September IS, 1837. Their 
marriage has been blessed with four children, 
as follows — Hulda J., born Jime 12, 1874; 
Annie S., born Septembers, 187G; Ella M., 
born November 18, 1878, and Oscar E., born 
May 13, 1881. 



fAMES GRANT, an industrious and ener- 
getic agriculturist of CoUinwood town- 
ship, was born in the parish of Cromdal, 
Scotland, August 1, 1807, and is the son of 
Donald and Catherine (Grant) Grant, natives 
of the same country. 

Like many of the boys of that land, he at 
an earl}' age commenced working both at 
home and elsewhere, and made his home in 
the "land of heather" until 1835, when, with 
a wish to better his condition, he came to the 
United States, landing in New York. He 
remained in that city from August 18 to the 
28th of the following April, employing him- 
self at whatever he could find to do. From 
there he went to Maysville, Ky., but after 
a year's experience there gardening and por- 
tering, he removed to Louisville and worked 
in a store. At Millstown, Ky., he was next 
employed, as engineer of a large distillery, 
where he remained some five years. At the 
expiration of that time he went to Madison, 
Ind., and there rented a farm and lived four 
years. While at that place he was married, 
January 7, 1841, to Miss Elizabeth McMillen, 
a native of Jefferson county Ind., the daugh- 
ter of Robert McMillen, and who died in 1845. 
From Madison he removed to AVinooski, in 
the same State, where he dwelt for about 
twenty years. He was married there, to 



286 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Miss Eebecca Fifer, June 3, 1847. By this 
union thei'e has been born a family of nine 
children, as follows — George, James, Will- 
iam, Joiin, Sai-ah. Belle, Ann Catherine, Jane 
and ]\rary. ]\fr. Grant came to Meeker 
county on the 10th of October, 180(3, and 
built a house on land that he su|)|)()sed to be 
his, but two }'ears later, finding his error, 
moved to his own place, on section 26, where 
he now lives, lie has 120 acres, well im- 
proved. 



JOHN P. FALK, one of the leading farm- 
ers of Acton township, is a native of 
Schleswig, a province of t)enmark, which the 
Germans took in 186-1:. lie was born on the 
17th of Feliruary, 1833, and came to the 
United States in 1876, and after stopping for 
about two months on Two Bivers, in Mor- 
rison county, Minn., walked from there to 
Acton township, a distance of eighty-two 
miles, in two days. One difficulty he en- 
countered was in finding a place to stay all 
night, as he had $1,200 on his person, and 
feared robbery ; but after considerable 
trouble, he found a place at German's where 
he was hospitably treated. In Denmark he 
had owned a small farm, which he had sold 
before leaving the old counti-y. and upon his 
arrival in Acton he pui'chased eighty acres 
on section 32, with no improvements, paying 
$1,000 for it. lie has added forty acres to 
the farm since, and now has a comfortable 
home and a valuable farm. He has substan- 
tial farm Iniildings, and his barn is the most 
conveniently ari-anged in tiie township, it 
being so Iniilt that he can water his stock 
without taking them out of tiieir stalls, and 
it is so warm that water does not freeze in it 
during the most severe weather. 

Mr. Falk was married, on the 27tli of 
March, 1857, to Sophia Christianson, who 
was born on the 21st of September, 1830. 
They have had tiie following children — John, 



born January 28, 1858, died when about five 
months okl ; Laurine, born Se])t('mber 12, 
1859, married Martin Ilinck, and lives in 
Minneapolis; and Beter John, born Decem- 
ber 2, 18<il. The family are members of the 
Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Falk has 
taken a prominent part in public affairs. He 
was one of the founders of the insurance 
company which was organized in Acton and 
Genesee townships, and has been treasurer 
of the company since its organization. He 
has devoted a great deal of time and money 
to the interests of the association, and de- 
serves much credit for his zeal. He has 
also been church treasurer for a nuniljer of 
years, and has spared neither labor nor 
moiie}' when the good of the cause demanded 
his aid. In political matters he is a demo- 
crat, and has held various offices of trust, in- 
cluding that of supervisor for two years. 



--^; 



««►► 



ELSON TURNER. The great Empire 
State has furnished her full quota 
toward the upbuilding of the extensive 
Northwest, and no more enterjirising people 
come from anywhere than from that noble, 
Commonwealth. Among this class may be 
found the subject of this sketch, who was 
born in Livingston county, N. Y., March 
5, 1831, and is the son of Clement and Elmira 
(Boslev) Turner, natives of Connecticut and 
New York respectively. The mother died 
in the latter State while a young woman, and 
the father of our subject emigrated to the 
State of Wisconsin in 1816, and to Fayette 
county, Iowa, in 1870, and died in the latter 
place in 1875. The old gentleman was a 
farmer, a democrat, and the father of two 
boys, George and Nelson. 

The latter passed the halcyon days of 
childhood in attending school in his native 
State, and at the age of sixteen years com- 
menced life for his own benefit, hiring out 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



287 



his services to various farmers. While a resi- 
dent of the Empire State, he was united in 
mari'inge, December 18, 1856, with Miss 
Mary Iluinsey, a native of the same Common- 
wealtii, born June 1, 1840, and daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Luther Rumsey, now residents 
of Kingston. By tliis marriage tliere have 
been born some five children: — Eva, Emma, 
Ella, Etta, and Guy Ernest. Eva married 
Michael Caylor ; Emma is the wife of Fi-ank 
McConville, a merchant of Forest City; Ella 
is Mrs. Abbott Tonnpers, of Kingston. 

Mr. Turner came to Meeker county in 
1868, and located, where he now lives, on 
section 34, Kingston township. He is a man 
who takes deep interest in the educational 
work m the county, and has served for three 
years as director of school district No. 41. 
One of the most highly respected citizens of 
the count}', he may well be classed among 
its representative citizens. 



NDREW SULLIVAN. Prominent 
]£-^JL am(jng the old settlers of Forest City 
where he makes his home, upon sec- 
tion 36, is th^ subject of this biographical 
memoir. He is a native of County Kerry, Ire- 
land, born in October, 1822. He remained in 
the beloved land of liisljirth until thirty 3'ears 
of age, but growing tired of the oppressed con- 
dition of his country, he determined to seek 
in the New World the freedom he could not 
find under British rule or misrule. June 22, 
1852, he embarked at Liverpool, England, 
whither he had gone for that purpose, and, 
after an ocean voyage,landed at Boston, where 
he remained some three years. From there 
he moved to Indiana, but in the spring of 
1857 came to Meeker county, and settled on 
section 25, Forest City township. Some fif- 
teen or sixteen years later he removed to his 
present place. He has a fine farm of some 
276 acres, much of which is under the plow. 



He has been accustomed to farm work from 
his youth up, and of course thoroughly under- 
stands his calling in alt respects, and his place 
shows it. 

Mr. Sullivan was united in marriage Janu- 
ary 8, 1857, with Miss Bridget Flynn, a na- 
tive of Ireland, who had come to the Laiited 
States with friends in 1852. The wedding 
ceremony was pei-fornied in the city of Chi- 
cago, where Mr. Sullivan was employed at 
the time. By this union there have been 
born five children — John, Margaret, Ellen, 
Mary and Catherine. The last two mentioned 
are school-teachers, and all, being still single, 
are living with their parents, except Mary and 
Catherine, whose duties carry them to other 
places, although their home is beneath the 
parental roof. 

Mr. Sullivan is one of the leading agricul- 
culturists and stock-raisers of Forest City, and 
keeps up a herd of some thirty-five or forty 
head of good horned cattle and some nine or 
ten horses, the latter of which are part Nor- 
man blood. In his political faith he maybe 
classed among the democrats. He and his 
estimable family are membei's of the Eoman 
Catholic Church, attending services at Forest 
City. 



'OHN M. JOHNSON, the leading hard- 
ware merchant of the village of Dassel, 
was born in the Kingdom of Sweden in 1846, 
and is the son of John and Gatrud Johnson. 
He received his education in his native land, 
and remained there until the year 1864, which 
found him crossing the stormy Atlantic to a 
new home in the United States. He came 
direct to Minnesota on landing on these 
shores, and took up his residence in Carver 
county, where he lived for a period of two 
years. From there he removed to Minneap- 
olis, of which city he was a citizen until 1871, 
when he took up a homestead in Cokato 
township,A\'"right county, to M'hich he moved. 



288 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Two years' residence satisfied him, and sell- 
ing out he purchased a farm in tlio same 
county, where he hved four years, and tlien 
disposed of that and removed to the village 
of Dassel, where he purchased an interest in 
the blacksmith shop of Erick Eenquist, that 
being his trade, and remained in partnership 
with liim until two years later, when he 
bought out Mr. Renquist. Alone he then 
carried on the business until 18S2, at which 
date, in company with L. W. Leighton, he 
established the second hardware store in the 
village. The firm, thus formed, continued 
until January 1, 1887, when our subject pur- 
chased his partner's interest, and for more 
than a j'ear was alone in the concern. March 
15, 1888, he admitted to a partnership John 
Osterman, and the present firm of J. M. 
Johnson & Co. was formed. 

Mr. Johnson, although not partisan in his 
views, has decided opinions upon political 
questions, and particularly in all local matters. 
His excellent business tact and sterling up- 
rightness have drawn upon him the attention 
of the community, and he was duly elected 
to a position upon the board of village trus- 
tees in 18S2, and was again chosen to fill that 
office in March, 18S8. As a business man he 
is active and enterprising, and he has a finan- 
cial interest in both the woolen mill and the 
foundry, both institutions of great value to 
the community. 

Mr. Johnson was united in marriage Jan- 
uary 27, 1870, while living in Wright county, 
with Miss Maiy Clarquist, a native of Swe- 
den, and daughter of Lewis and Christine 
Clarquist, the latter of whom were early set- 
tlers on section 14, Dassel township. Mrs. 
Johnson has a fine millinery establishment in 
the village, which she instituted in 1884. 



>«": 



^^^^ 



NOTHER prominent citizen of Meeker 
j^^ count}' is G. W. Fuller, of Litchfield, 
a native of Broome county, N. Y., born 



Septomlier 24, 1824. He is the son of Ira 
and Sallie (Barnes) Fuller, both of whom 
were born in the State of Connecticut, the 
former April 17, 1793, and the latter Janu- 
ary 12, 17U5. His father and mother were 
married at Lisle, Broome county, N. Y., Sep- 
tember 14, 1814, and in 1833 removed to 
Trumbull county, Ohio, where thev made 
their home until the death of Mr. Fuller, Sr., 
on his seventy-fourth birthday ; his wife sm'- 
vived him until March 25, 1877. 

The subject of our narrative remained with 
his parents until he was about fifteen j'ears 
of age, when he commenced life by teaching 
for one term. He then entered the jiostffice 
at AVarren, and was there employeil during 
the great ])residential campaign of 1840, be- 
tween W. II. Harrison and Martin Van Bu- 
ren. He remained in that position for about 
a year, and then attended the Farmington 
Academy for a time. He then entered what 
is now Dennison University where he re- 
mained over five years, graduating from 
there in 1847. He taught school for two 
terms subsequent to this and then entered 
the imiversity, taking charge of the Baptist 
church at Birmingham, in the Buckeye State, 
where he remained some three years. The 
next three years were passed in the service of 
the Lord at Ashtabula, Ohio, after which he 
occupied the puljtit of the I'aptist church 
at Meadville, Penn., for a like period. 
Having been sent by the Baptist Home Mis- 
sionary Society to Chatfield, this State, he 
came to Minnesota in 1858, and remained in 
the last mentioned city some seven years, a 
faithful watchman upon the walls of Zion. 
From there he removed to Lake City, and 
during his labors in that place, extending 
over a period of seven years, missed but two 
Sabbaths' exercise of his beloved calling. His 
health becoming impaired, he came to Litch- 
field in 1872, and purchasing twenty-live 
acres of land, established his present nursery 
business. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



289 



Mr. Fuller has three times been married, 
his present wife being Miss S. S. Garfield, a 
second cousin of our late lamented, martyred 
president, James A. Garfield. lie is the pa- 
rent of nine children, five of whom are liv- 
ing-. The record of these is Isabel, Mrs. 
Dr. Canney, of San Francisco, Gal.; Minnie 
E., whose husband, L. Swift, is lousiness man- 
ager of the Minneapolis Evening Journal; 
Annie, deceased wife of J. Q. A. Braden,who 
died October 2.5, 1879, at Santa Cruz, Cali- 
fornia ; George Garfield, who is book-keeper 
for the AYashburn Mill company, Minneapo- 
lis; Pauline, the lately deceased wife of E. 
B. Benson, the cashier of the Meeker County 
Bank, who died May 19, 1S8S ; and Jevrel and 
Lillian, living at home. 



/^f^ARlON BOYER, a veteran of the 
ir-Ltr"\ late war', is engaged in carrying on 
both the meat-market and dray business in 
the village of Dassel, where he located in 
1881. He is a native of Mercer county, Ohio, 
born January 1, 1840, and is the son of Louis 
and Nancy A. (Bowersock) Boyer, both of 
whom were also natives of the " Buckeye 
State." The parents of our subject, in 1855, 
removed with their family to Crawford, how 
Vernon county, AVis., where they remained 
upon a farm until the death of the father, in 
1857. Later the mother came to Hastings, 
in this State, and died at St. Paul in 1887. 

Marion, in 1860, at the age of twenty, was 
united in marriage with Miss Esther Buck- 
master, with whom he lived upon a farm 
until the spring of 1862 when the angel of 
death invaded his household and snatched 
away his wife from his embrace. He then 
gave up farming, and, August 6, 1862, enlisted 
in Company I), Thirty-First Wisconsin Infan- 
try, and served with that well-known regi- 
ment imtil the close of the wai'. The first 
battle in which he participated was that of 



Peach Tree Creek, in the Atlanta campaign, 
and throughout the engagements around the 
last-named city, and at the capture of that 
])lace. Mr. Boyer Avas always present with 
regiment, wliich did excellent service. When 
Sherman cut himself off from his base of 
supplies and commenced his memorable 
march to the sea, the Thirty-First Wisconsin 
was a part of his columns, and our subject 
marched with his company. During the 
battle of Bentonville, N. C, when the con- 
federate general, Joseph Johnston, had turned 
the flank and surrounded our forces, the regi- 
ment, with others, faced about and charged 
the enemy, during which Mr. Boyer received 
a bullet and fell to the ground. Lying upon 
the ground, propped upon his elbow, he 
essayed to open the cartridge boxes of his 
fallen comrades, and, in spite of his wound, 
passed the ammunition to his companions, 
and while doing so was again hit in the 
neighborhood of the s])ine, which disabled 
him entirelv. His gallant comrades, out- 
numbered, were forced to retire, leaving 
him, as the}' supposed, dead upon the field, 
and the rebel line charged over him. Some 
time elapsed, and, coming to, he managed to 
crawl to a tree, Ijut, on ])ulling himself erect, 
found he could not stand, so crawled on all 
fours toward the lines of his regiment, about 
half a mile away, and when his comrades 
saw him they came forth and carried him in 
and placed him in an ambulance. Four or 
five days later he moved along with the regi- 
ment, and in a month resumed duty. He 
participated in all the hardships of that 
famous march, and wound up with the grand 
review at Washington, after which he received 
his discharge, June 20, 1865, at Louisville, 
Ivy., and returned to Wisconsin. In the 
spring of 1866 he came to Minnesota, and 
settled in Dakota county, but in 1873 removed 
to Bird Island, and from there, the next 
spring, to Elk River, where he remained 
until coming here. 



2go 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Mr. Boypr, November 28, 1872, again en- 
tered the marriage state, being united on 
that day with Miss Annie Slieldon, a native 
of Elk River. Minn., and daughter of Henry 
II. and Cyntiiia Slieldon. ller ])arents set, 
tied in Sherburne county, at Elk River, in 
Mav, 1850, and were among the earliest set- 
tlers of that section. By this marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Boyer have two children — Clara 
E. and Louis. 

Mr. Boyer was quite prominent in the or- 
ganization of Colfax Post, No. 133,G. A. R., at 
this village, and was the first officer of the 
day. He was a member of the post at Elk 
River before coming here. He has been an 
officer in the Good Templars order, and is 
prominent in the prohibition movement. 



fOHN MURRAY, who is numbered 
among the most extensive farmers and 
stock-raisers of Meeker county, is one of 
the pioneers of 1857. During that year he 
made his first appearance here, and immedi- 
ately took up a claim of IGO acres upon sec- 
tion 30, Forest City townshi]), where he now 
resides. To his original farm he has added 
from time to time, until lie has now one of 
the finest properties in the county, extending 
into the three townships of Dassel, Darwin 
and Forest City, embracing something like 
800 acres. 

Mr. Murray is a native of that "Gem of 
the Sea," Ireland, and was Ijorn in the year 
1838. At the age of fourteen years, he left 
his native home and came alone to the United 
States. Arriving in New York, the young 
emigrant, after a few months spent in the 
metropolis, came out AVest, ami spent the 
next five years in the city of Chicago. 
From there he came to tiiis county l)y way 
of Minneapolis, and on his arrival, settled, 
and has ever since made this his home. 
During the Indian (tutbreak of 18C2. he took 



his family to a place of safety, but soon re- 
turned to help in the defense of his home. 
He has always been engaged in agriculture, 
and still follows that avocation. 

Mr. Murray was married in March, 1857, 
to Miss Margaret Flynn, a native of the 
Emerald Isle, born in 1835. By this union 
there have been born a family of nine chil- 
dren, whose names are as follows — John, 
Michael, Thomas, William, James, Daniel, 
Catharine, Ellen and Margaret. John, the 
only one not single, married Miss Lizzie 
Hughes, and is a farmer. 

In his political views Mr. Murray coincides 
witii the democratic part}', and accepts their 
doctrines and principles. In religion he is a 
zealous Roman Catholic, and socially is a 
genial hospitable gentleman, like all the 
Celtic race, and one whom it is a pleasure 
to meet. 



"OSEPH VOSSEN, the merchant of 
AVatkins, came to that village in 
1882, and opened a stock of general mer- 
chandise, in company with A. D. Spaulding, 
in a building 22x10, which they erected for 
the purpose. After carrying on the business 
for about six months, tlie partnei'ship was 
dissolved, Mr. Yossen purchasing ^Mr. 
Spauiding's interest. Since that time he 
continued to operate the business alone. 

Mr. Yossen was born in the Rhine Prov- 
inces of the German Empire, on the 17tli of 
April, 1849, and is the son of Ciiristian and 
Nella (Koenigs) Yossen. He passed his 
early years and received his education 
'neath the genial skies and amid the vine- 
clad hills of his native land, but on attaining 
his thirteenth year commenced woi'k for 
himself. In 1864 he came to the United 
States with his parents, landing at New 
Yoi'k after a voyage of fifty-four days. 
They settled in Carver county, where they 
remained about four years, and then came to 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



2gi 



Meeker county and settled in Forest Prairie 
township, among the first to locate there, 
where the parents still make their home. 

Mr. Vossen, of whom we write, was united 
in marriage with Miss Anna Weinman Janu- 
ary 29, 1877, at Burton, Carvercounty. She is 
the daughter of John W. Weinman, a farmer 
of that county. I'y this union there have 
been borij a family of three children — 
Joseph, Nellie and John. 

Mr. Vossen is entirely independent of 
party lines in discharge of his elective fran- 
chise. He has, however, held the post of 
town supervisor for eight or nine years. He 
is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. 



P. NYGREN, a prominent citizen and 
a successful farmer, residing on section 
y, Greenleaf township, was born in Sweden 
on the 24th of June, 1822. He was raised 
on a farm, learning the habits of industry 
and economy, whicli are a characteristic of 
the people of his nationality. In June, 185-1, 
he was married at Kroneburg, Sweden, to 
Anna F. Petterson. lie remained in his 
native land until 1SG8, Avhen he came to the 
United States, and after making short stops 
at New York City, Rockford, 111., and 
Watertown, Minn., he finally arrived in 
Meeker county in October, 1868, locating at 
once in Greenleaf township. He has as good 
a farm as any in the township, has it well 
stocked and has fine farm buildings. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Nygren, 
has been blessed with the following children — 
John P., born October 2, 1855; Matilda C, 
born January 22, 1857; Carl A., born in 
November, 1858; Christina M., born Decem- 
ber 15, 1860, and Charles O., born December 
21, 1862; all of whom are still living except 
John P., who died October li, 1877, in 
Greenleaf township ; and Carl A., who died 
in Sweden when only fifteen months old. 



Matilda C. is now the wife of W. H. 
Wilkins, and resides in St. Cloud ; Christina 
is now in Litchfield ; and the son Charles O., 
is still at home and carries on the business. 
Charles has a thorough knowledge of farm 
work, and lias the reputation of being one 
of the most thorougli and successful agri- 
culturistsin the township. 

J. P. Nygren is a re|niblican in jiojitics, 
and in religious matters he and his wife are 
members of the Swedish Lutheran Church. 
Mrs. Nygren is a native of the same country 
as her husband, having been born in Sweden 
on the 18th of July, 1828. 



1||\AV1D GORMAN, who carries on a liv- 
ii/ eiy, feed and sale stable at Litchfield, 
is a native of Canada West, born in 1855, and 
is the son of John and Bridget (Taberty) 
Gorman, natives of Ireland, who came to 
America in 1840. He remained in his na- 
tive country until he was thirteen years of 
age, when his parents removed to Minnesota 
and settled at Monticello, Wright county. 
David made his home with his parents until 
he was twent\'-one years of age, his time 
being spent upon a farm, attending common 
school as opportunity offered. On reaching 
his majority he went to the Black IliUs, 
and for a year remained there following min- 
ing, after which he returned to Minnesota 
and engaged in the liquor trade at Monticello. 
In ISSO he was employed at bridge building* 
on the Manitoba railroad, and later took 
charge 6f the Howard House at Litchfield, in 
company with Richard Knights, and ran that 
a \'ear, but at the expiration of that time sold 
out to his jiartner, purchasing at the same 
time the livery business of Knights & Mc- 
Carger, at Litchfield, and has conducted it 
ever since. 

Mr. Gorman was married on the 3d of 
May, 1882, to Miss Belle Knights, a native of 
Canada, but a resident of Meeker county at 



292 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



the time. Their union luis been blessed by 
the advent of t\vochikh-en — Herbert Francis, 
born August 30, 1883, and Ilattie Marie, 
born February 12, 188S. 



-«« 



^Ip^HOMAS RYCKM AN, a well-known and 
JID' highly respected oiil settler, and one 
of the most successful and pi'ominent stock- 
raisers and farmers in tlie northern part of 
Meeker county, resides on section 14, Union 
Grove towiisliip. 

Mr. Ryckman was born in Upper Canada, 
on November 2, 1S34, and is a son of Mun- 
son and Fidelia (Ganford) Ilyckman. lie 
remained on his father's farm, attending 
school during the winter months and work- 
ing on the farm durini;' tiie summei', until he 
was about twenty-two years of age, when he 
started to make liis own way in the world. 
In 1857 he came to Stillwater, Minn., and 
remained there for about tln'ee months, 
working some at harvesting, but putting in 
the most of his time looking for a suitable 
location. In September, 1877, he came to 
Meeker county and pro-emi)ted land on sec- 
tion 28, in what is now Manannah township. 
He was married on the 11th of February, 
1862, to Miss IlaiTiet ilaybee, a daughter of 
Chai'les and Harriet (Smitli) Maybee. They 
were living on their farm when the Indian 
outbreak occurred. As a full history of that 
matter is given in anotiier department of 
this work it is imnecessaiy to repeat it here. 
Mr. R\'ckman took a prominent ])art in the 
moves of tliose times, and was on some of the 
most perilous antl dangerous ex])editionsthat 
were made. Upon hearing the news of the 
massacre at Acton, August 17, 1862, with 
the others they went to Forest City, and a 
day or two later, Mrs. Ryckman went to St. 
Paul, while Mr. Ilyckman remained to look 
after his stock, and was back and forth 
between Forest City and liis claim. Besides 
many other perilous trips lie made, he was 



with a party of eleven that went to Caswell's 
fai'm. and four of the jiarty were killed, 
AViliiain Maybee, a brother of Mrs. Ilyck- 
man, being among the slain. 

After the close of hostilities they returned 
to their farm, and in 1865 tliey sold the 
Manannah farm and moved to their present 
place on section 14, Union Grove township. 
He now owns 550 acres of land, one of the 
mo. t valuable farms in the county, and his 
buildings are by far the best in the township, 
being a credit to himself and also to the 
neighborhood. The residence alone cost 
$3,000. 

Ml-, antl ]\Irs. Ryckman are the parents of 
the following children — Ella Jane, born 
April 13, 1863; John Nelson, born October 
31,1865; Cora Edna, born April 20,1871; 
and Roy Franklin, Ijorn June 27, 1882. 

Mr. Ryckman has four brothers in Ore- 
gon — Tobias, James, John and Descum, and 
four sisters in Canada — Abigail, Sarah, Har- 
riet and Ellen. His parents both died in 
Canada. The parents of Mrs. Ryckman 
reside in Litclitield. She has two sisters — 
Adelia, wife of James A. Lee of Litchfield, 
and Augusta Jane, wife of Wallace Smith, 
of Fair Haven, Stearns county, Minn. 

Mr. Ryckman has taken an active interest 
in townshi]iand educational matters, and has 
held various otfices of this nature. He is 
one of the leading and most influential citi- 
zens of his town. 



•«--fS{^"4^' 



PETER J. MALMQUIST, one of the 
blacksmiths at Grove City, is among 
the most respected citizens of the county. 
He is a native of Sweden, born July 13, 1833, 
and the son of Johannes and Ingrid Martins 
Olander. lie came to the United States dur- 
ing the year 1871, and altera stormy passage, 
across the briny deep, came directly to this 
countv. He remained here al)out a month 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



295 



aTul then went to Chippewa county, this 
State, where he took up a claim with a sol- 
dier's warrant. As he had paid for this be- 
fore he got it he was obliged to make many 
trips to Litchfield before he could lay his 
hands on it, but has linally accomplished it. 
His claim, which was the west halt' of the 
northeast quarter of section 2(3, Leenthrop 
township, Chippewa county, was a tine piece 
of land, and on it he made his home for some 
four years, and then sold out and came to 
Groye City and put up his smith}', where he 
has carried on business eyer since. 

Mr. Malmtinist and IMiss Petronella Eliza- 
beth Pearson were united in the holy bonds 
of matrimony December 2(5, 1860, and are 
the parents of three children, two of whom 
are living. Their record is as follows — Charles 
E. F., born May 20, 1864, died in March, 
1866; Charles E. F., born Decendjer 1, 1867, 
and is now a clerk in the oifice of Dudley & 
Nelson's elevator, at Grove City; and Ernest 
H. E., born May 31, 1800, at home attending 
school. 



^^^ 



JOHN TEBERG. Among the Swedish 
element which makes up so large a share 
of the population of Meeker county, and 
whose lial)its of industry and tlirift, brought 
from their native land, that so soon raise 
them to competency, is the gentleman whose 
name heads this sketch. He is living on 
section 32, in the town of Darwin, where he 
has a fine and extensive farm of 400 acres, 
250 of which are under excellent cultivation, 
and upon which he has some forty two head 
of horses and cattle. 

Mr. Teberg was born in Sweden Kovera 
ber 5, 1839, and is the son of Carl and Celia 
Teberg, natives of the same kingdom. He 
remained in the land of his birth until 1870, 
when, with a view to better his condition 
beyond what is possible in the mother 



country, he emigrated to the United States. 
On his arrival in this country he came at 
once to Meeker county, and with his family 
settled in what is now Litchfield township. 
After remaining there for about five years 
he removed to Darwin, and took up his 
residence where he now lives, on section 32. 
He has passed most of his life in farm pur- 
suits, his parents being farmers in Sweden, 
where they botli died. 

On the 1st of July, 1866, in Sweden, Mr. 
Tebero; was united in marriase with Miss 
Ellen Peterson, the daughter of Peter Larson 
and Elsie Larson Peterson. Her parents 
came to America in 1865, and settled in 
Litchfield township. By this marriage Mr. 
Tebei'g is the parent of two children, namely 
John, born September 11, 1866 ; and Martin, 
born October 15, 1869. 

In his political views Mr. Teberg is with the 
republican party, although not a politician 
by any means. 



l|;?,aEWlS A. PIER, pastor of the Christian 
|i^ church at Litchfield, and editor and 
proprietor of the Saturday L'evieiv, is a native 
of Yerinont, and was born on the 7tli of 
October, 1855. His parents were K. A. and 
Lucy B. (Damon) Pier, both natives of the 
same State. The father, who was a farmer, 
came to Dodge county, Wis., in 1856, in the 
interest of a large real estate owner East, 
for the purpose of opening up the lands in 
that part of Wisconsin belonging to his prin- 
cipal. He remained there until 1863, when 
he settled in Dodge count}', Minn., and 
bought a farm. In 1869 he was elected treas- 
urer of that county and located at Mantor- 
ville. x\t the expiration of his tenn of office 
he purchased the Mantorville Express, in 
connection with his son, but soon disposed of 
his interest to the latter. He is still a res- 
ident of Mantorville. 

Lewis A. Pier remained with his parents 



296 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



until twenty-one years of age. He enjoyed 
the advantages of the common schools until 
he was sixteen years of age, when he entered 
the office of the Mantorville Kq/reHK to learn 
the printer's trade. In 1874 he became sole 
editor and ]n-oj)rietor of the i)aper and con- 
ducted it until ISTt), when he sold out and 
Avent to Indianapolis, Ind., and entered But- 
ler University, from whicii he graduated in 
1882. Previous to this, however, he had 
become pastor of one of the Christian 
churches of that city, of which he remained 
in charge until 1883. He then took charge 
of a church at Union City, Ind., remaining 
until the spring of 1881, when he settled at 
Litchfield, Minn., and took charge of the 
Christian cluirch at that place. In July, of 
the same year, lie established the Review, 
whicli he still conducts. Mr. Pier was mar- 
ried on the 31st of August, 1881, to Miss 
Clarinda C. Ilarriman, of Frankfort, Ind., 
Avho is also a graduate of Butler Univei'sity. 



ip^HRISTIAN HALVORSEN, one of the 
\^ thrifty fanners of Cosmos townshiji, 
residing upon section 22, is a native of the 
Kingdom of Norway, born in November, 
184:1. He was reared in the land of his birth 
and made it his home until he was some 
twenty-five years of age, when he crossed the 
ocean to America. He resided for one year in 
"Wisconsin and then came to Meeker county, 
arriving at Litchlield in the first passenger 
train run into that village. In 1870 Mr. 
Halvorsen bought the claim of O. K. Nelson 
to the place he now lives on, and the next 
year filed on it as homestead, he having 
declared his intention of becoming an Amer- 
ican citizen. 

During that summer he broke up some five 
acres of land and then took a tri]) elsewhere, 
returning the following winter, and in 1871 
was married to Miss Annie Hanson. Thev 



have a family of eight children — Minnie, 
Helen, IIenr3', Carl, Alma, Clara, Lena and 
Lawrence. Mr. Halvorsen is among the 
rising men of the township. 

^IliplBBlTTS J. SOULE, superintendent of 
XJliJ schools of Meeker county, is a native 
of Erie county, N. Y., born February 3, 1817. 
His parents were Stephen "W. and Ruth 
(Munger) Soule, both natives of the Empire 
State. His father followed the profession of 
school teaching from the time he was eie:h- 
teen until he was sixty-seven years of age, 
his last term having been taught in Meeker 
county in the winter of 188(!-7. He had 
come West on a visit and was pi'evailed upon 
to take a school for the winter term, and the 
following spring returned to his Eastern 
home. 

Tibbitts J. remained with his parents until 
sixteen years of age, having up to that time 
attended school most of the time. At that 
age he enlisted in Company D, Second New 
York Mounted Rifles, was mustered in Janu- 
ary' 27, 1861, and served in the Army of the 
Potomac until the close of the war. During 
his service he was in thirteen pitched battles; 
was wounded twice while in the trenches in 
front of Petersbui'g; at Bellefield I'aid he had 
his shin bone shattered by a minie ball, and 
as he says "had he entered the hospital 
would have worn a wooden leg to-day " ; but 
he remained with the "boys" and was soon 
on duty again. After receiving his discharge, 
on the 23d of August, 18(15, he returned to 
his home in Erie county, N. Y., but shortly 
afterward took a trip through Kan.sas and 
Indian Territory, remaining West for some 
two years. After this he went back to New 
York and followed the profession of a school 
teacher until 1879, with the exception of two 
years, during which he was agent for A. S. 
Barnes & Co.'s school books through West- 
ern New York. In 1879 he came to Meeker 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



297 



county, Minn., and rented a 1,200-acre farm, 
for one year. Being a stranger to that busi- 
ness, he met with considerable loss ; but, with 
hopes for better success in the future, he 
stuck to the business, and a year or so later 
he purchased a farm in Greenleaf township. 
This place he sold in 1885. In the fall of 
1880 he was elected superintendent of schools 
of Meeker county, which position he still 
holds, filling the office with credit to himself 
and satisfaction to his constituents. Mr. Soule 
is an active member of the Grand Army of 
tlie Republic and is the present junior vice- 
commander of Frank Daggett Post, Xo. 35, 
at Litchfield. He is also a member of the 
Masonic order, having joined Phoenix lodge, 
Eo. 262, of Gowand, N. Y., while in that 
State, and has since retained his membership 
with them. Politically, Mr. Soule is a demo- 
crat. He was an active supporter of Grover 
Cleveland when he was a candidate for sheriff 
of Erie county, N. Y., in 1869, there being 
in that campaign only two successful candi- 
dates on the democratic ticket, Grover Cleve- 
land, for sheriff, and Stephen W. Soule (Tib- 
bitts J.'s father), for school commissioner. 

Mr. Soule was married in 1873 to Miss 
Maria Anthony, of Boston, Erie county N., 
Y., and they have been blessed with four 
children, as follows— Sharlie M., born May 
14, 1875 ; Helen M., born November 13, 
1879; Ruth M., born January 29, 1886; and 
Louisa M., born September 4, 1887. Mr. 
and Mrs. Soule are active members of the 
Episcopal Church. 



PETER ELOFSON is one of the old set- 
tlers of Swede Grove township. He 
■was born in Sweden on the 27th of March, 
1845, and is a son of Elofson and Bertha An- 
derson. In 1857, in com]iany with his 
mother and brothers — INels and Andrew — 
he came to the United States, and they 
settled in Swede Grove townshij), this 



count}'. Jn 1862 they were driven away by 
the Indians and went to Forest City, and 
later to Anoka, and he remained with them 
until the following spring, when he began 
working out at different lines of business. 
Three years later he returned to Swede 
Grove township and took a homestead on 
section 30, remaining there until 1878, when, 
he sold out and bought forty acres on sec- 
tion 20, on which there was a small house. 
He lived there for two years, and, in the- 
meantime, built on land which had been in- 
cluded in his mother's homestead. He also- 
purchased more land, and now has a farm of 
160 acres, a good share of which is under 
cultivation. He has considerable stock and 
is in comfortable circumstances. 

Mr. Elofson was married on the 5th of 
February, 1870, to Miss Emma Nelson, a 
daughter of Nils and Ingra Pehrson. They 
have had the following children — Betsy,, 
born December 12, 1870; Anna, born May 
18, 1872; Henry, born January 15,1874;. 
Edward, born August 19, 1875 ; and AYilliam, 
born July 12, 1878. Mr. Elofson is a repub- 
lican in political matters and takes an active 
interest in all matters affecting his township. 
He has been road overseer for the past five 
or six years, and has been school treasurer 
for six years. 



'S^^'-4^' 



JOHN HALLGREN, a farmer and stock 
raiser residing on section 17, Greenleaf 
township,is one of those hospitable and open- 
hearted farmers whom it is a pleasure to meet 
and who reflect credit on the community in 
which they live. He is a native of Gothland,. 
Sweden, and was born on the 1st of Novem- 
ber, 1 839. He left his native land in 1807 
for the United States, and settled in Michi- 
gan. While there he was married on the 6thi 
of November, 1873, to Mary S.Swanson, and 
their union has been blessed with three chil- 
dren, as follows — John A., born December 



■zgi 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



6, 1874; Emma C, born August 11, 1877 ; 
and Jolin E., born May 10, 1884. All of 
these are living except John A.. Avho died on 
the 2d of Febraary, 1881, and was Ijuried at 
Ish])eming, Mich. Mr. Ilallgren remained 
in Michigan until 1885, -when he removed to 
Minnesota and purchased the farm in Green- 
leaf townslii]) where he now lives. lie has 
a valuable farm, a comfortalile iiome and is 
in coiafortabh; circnmstanees linancially. 

"While in Michigan j\Ir. Ilallgren followed 
his profession as an engineer and had the 
misfortune to lose his hearing, or at least to 
greatly impair it, while fixing the Avhistle on 
his engine, it being one of the largest in that 
■State. The ice had formed about the pipe 
and he went up with an axe to knock it off. 
"When the ice dro))ped it struck the lever 
Avhich blew off the whistle, and the roar was 
so tremendous that it impaired his hearing 
«,s stated. 

— «•-; 

J^) AY F. CASE, the popular young drug- 
Ji^ gist of the village of Dassel, is a 
uativ^e of Waupun, Dodge county, AVis., born 
February 12, 1855, and is the son of Eoyal 
T. anil Almira (Fay) Case. He came to this 
county in 1873, with his parents, who settled 
at BonniwelFs Mill, where they made their 
home until their deaths, the mother in 1879, 
the father in 1886. At the time of the settle- 
ment of the family. Hay came to Dassel 
■and entered the drug store of Charles A. 
Morris, the pioneer druggist, with whom he 
remained until that gentleman sold out to 
Dr. McCulloni, with whom he continued. 
Jonas Eudberg, the successor of McCullom, 
appreciating the mei'its of the young man, 
ke})t him in his employ, and liay was still in 
the position of confidential clci'k when Mr. 
Eudberg died. After that event, Mr. Case 
and Mrs. Eudberg formed a co-partnership to 
carry on the business, Mr. Case purchasing a 
lialf interest therein, and [^being managing 



partner. Close attention to l)usiness and com- 
mendable economy enabled him, on the re- 
marriage of his associate in trade, in 1886, to 
purchase her interest, since which time he 
has carried on the business alone. lie carries 
a full lini' of drugs, paints, oils, wall paper, 
fancy g()(xls, tobaccos, cigars, etc., and is 
doing a handsome business. 

Eay F. Case and Miss Ella G. Stocking, 
])ledge(l their mutual faith at the marriage 
altar, Sei)t ember 8, 18S2. The lad}' is a 
native of McLeod county, Minn., and a 
daughter of E. W. and Jennie Stocking, of 
Hutchinson. Mrs. Case, when an infant, 
was an inmate of the stockade at Hutchin- 
son, during the attack u])on that ])lace by the 
Sioux Indians in the fall of 1862. 



/^LIAS CARLSON, an enter])rising and 
\^^ respected farmer and stock raiser, re- 
siding on section 30. Ilarve^y township, is the 
present chairman of the board of supervisors 
of the townshi]). He has taken an active 
part and interest in public affairs and is a 
leading citizen of his township. He is a na- 
tive of Sweden and was born on the 5th of 
December, 1837. Ilisjiarents were natives of 
the same country and his father was a farmer. 
Both of his ])arents died in the land of their 
birth. 

The early life of Elias Carlson was spent 
in his native land, but in 1857 he came to the 
United States and made his way to Minne- 
sota, settling at Taylor's Falls, Chisago 
county. He i-emained there until August 
20, 1864, when he came to Meeker county, 
Minn., and locateil in Harvey townshij), 
where he has since lived. lie owns a valua- 
ble farm of SOO acres of land, a good share of 
which is under cultivation. He dev(jtes his 
time to general farming and stock-raising and 
now has over iifty head of cattle on his 
])lace. He has been ver\' successful in his 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



259 



farming operations and owes all his present 
prosperit}' to bis own efforts and industry, as 
he was a poor man when he came here, as 
was the case with about all of the pioneers 
of Meeker county. He has splendid improve- 
ments on the place and fine buildings. 

Mr. Carlson was married on the 14th of 
November, 1S61, to Mary G. Ahlstrom, and 
they have been the parents of fourteen 
children, one of whom, Frank, is married. 
Mrs. Carlson is also a native of Sweden. 
Mr. Carlson has spent the most of his time 
at farming, although he learned the wagon- 
maker's trade and followed that for a num- 
ber of years. 



l^ARNSWORTH R. HILL, one of Meeker 
Jp^ county's most successful farmers and 
stock-raisers, and one of the large land own- 
ers, is a resident of Forest City township, his 
home being upon section 33. He has a mag- 
nificent farm of 711 acres of fine land, em- 
bracing a large portion of sections 33 and 
34, Forest City, and section 4, Darwin, much 
of which is under a high state of cultivation. 
Mr. Hill gives a large share of his attention 
to the raising of graded Holstein and Dur- 
ham cattle and graded Norman horses. Plis 
herd numbers now seme 160 head, and he is 
extensively engaged in the manufacture of 
" gilt-edge " butter, which he ships to Min- 
neapolis for sale. 

The subject of this personal history was 
born in Cumberland county, Me., February 
20, 1842, and is the son of Reuben and Miriam 
C. Hill. He was reared in the State of his 
birth, and there received the elements of a 
most excellent common-school education. In 
his earlier days he followed lumbering and 
farming in the " Old Pine Tree State," and af- 
terwards commenced lumbering operations in 
Minnesota. He was also engaged in the 
butchering business for some five years, all 
in the State of Minnesota. In the fall of 



1877 he came to Meeker county, with L. D. 
Flill, and both settled in the town of Litch- 
field, but in about a year our subject removed 
to his present place of abode, where he has. 
since lived. 

He was united in marriage March 25,. 
1872, with Miss Etta Sanborn, a native of 
Cumberland county, JMe., who died July 30, 
1881, leaving two children— Emma L. and 
Charley E., both of whom are at home with 
their father. December 11, 1882, Mr. Hill 
contracted a second matrimonial alliance, 
with Miss Anna L. Peifer, a native of Meeker 
countj% Minn., who is the mother of two 
children — Earns worth L. and AVinnie M. 
Hill. 

Mr. Hill is one of the honored and re- 
spected citizens of the township, and has- 
served the people in the responsible position 
of supervisor for some time, and is always- 
interested in tlie public affairs of the county. 
He is a republican politically. 



M NDREW lee. The subject of this- 
7;^V biographical notice is a respected 
farmer, who resides on section 15, Greenleaf 
township, where he has a valuable farm, a 
comfortable home, and building improve- 
ments which reflect much credit upon his. 



enterprise and thi'ift. 

He comes of the same nationality which 
has made so many stunly and substantial 
citizens of Minnesota, having been born in 
Sweden on the 31st of August, 1847. His. 
parents were natives of the same country, 
his father having been born there in 1809, 
and died in the land of his birth in 1862, 
while his mother is now a resident of Meeker 
county. Andrew left his native land in 1872 
for America, and settled in Chautauqua 
county, N. Y., and two j^ears later, in 
1874, again took up his Avestward march and 
settled in Minneapolis, Minn. Three j^ears 



■300 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



later, in ISTO, lie came to Meeker county, 
Minn., and purchased a I'arni of eighty acres 
in Greenleaf township, wliere he has since 
iived. Since that time lie has purchased an 
additional forty, and also ten in Ellsworth, 
which makes his present farm 130 acres, a 
^ood share of which is under cultivation. 
He devotes his time to general farming and 
stock-raising, and has a good numl)er of head 
of cattle on the farm. 

In 1ST5 Mr. Lee was married to IMiss Mary 
Anderson. Her parents were natives of 
Sweden ; her mother died there when she 
-was only seven years old, and her father now 
lives in Meeker county. Mr. and ilrs. Lee 
have been the parents of seven children, all 
of whom are living. Their names are as fol- 
lows — Frank E., born June -i, 1S77 ; Ernest 
Y., born February 13, 1879 ; Alex. T., born 
December 30, ISSO; Pljalmar E., born Octo- 
ber 23, 1882; Hilma Y., born May 27, 1884; 
€arl E., born December 30, 1885, and Polly 
O., born June 20, 1887. 



•«-J 



npi T ON. CHARLES E. CUTIS, one of the 
jyi"J_ ))ioneers of Meeker county, who has 
always been prominently identified with its 
progress and development, and who lias held 
some of the most exalted offices in the gift of 
the people of this portion of the State, is the 
subject of this biograjiliical history. He 
•came to Forest City, where he located, in 
18.56, and is still a resident upon tlie land 
■v\-here he first settled, on section 22. 

Mr. Cutts first saw the light at Orwell. Ad- 
dison county, Yt., on the 2d of August, 
1835, and is the son of Lorain and Emeline 
{Murray) Cutts, both of whom were natives 
of the " Green Mountain State."' He received 
his primary education in the district schools 
of his native State, and in 1853 s])ent one year 
at the aoadein\' at Fort Flain, ]\[ontgom- 
«ry county, N. Y., after which he remained 



at home until 185(3, when he came West and 
settled in Minnesota, as mentioned above. 
He found, on his arrival here, a beautiful land, 
that far surjiassed anything the other side of 
the i)ig Woods, and determined to stay and 
help develop the country. But a few settlers 
were here at the time, this being but a 
short time before an almost unknown land. 
Brought up as he was upon tlie rocky soil 
of New England he was more than pleased 
witii the aspect of the new land, for 
"Here no stonj- ground provokes the wratli of Ihe farmer; 
Smoothly the plough-share runs through the soil as a 
keel through the water." 

He at once took up his claim and settled 
do-wn to the hard life of a Western pioneer 
upon the border. For a while he kept bach- 
elor's hall, but April 17, 1859, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Betsey Larson, a native 
of Sweden, who had come to the United 
States the previous year. He has always 
followed farming, except in 1859, when he 
held the office of county treasurer. In 1871, 
Mr. Cutts was elected State Senator from 
this district and represented the people of 
Meeker county in the Senate chamber through 
the sessions of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and 
Sixteenth General Assemblies. 

Mr. and ]\[rs. Cutts are the parents of the 
following chiklren — Alice, Mrs. J. AY. Wright 
of Litchfield; Rollin E., a student at the State 
University ; Willie E., Custer and Garfield. 
In politics our subject is an unswerving re- 
publican, and is quite active in all local 
campaigns. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. 

— — «•- 

TP)UDOLPH SCHWARZ. the village 
JF^ blacksmith of Manannah, came to 
Meeker county on 1883, and commenced his 
work on the spot where he now has his 
smithy. He is a native of Mecklenburg, 
Germany, born on the lith of Sei)tember, 
1853. At the age of fifteen he became ap- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



301 



prenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, and 
served some three years, and then pursued 
that calling as journeyman, beneath his 
native skies until 1882, when, with the com- 
mendable ambition to better his fortune, he 
emigrated to America. For a sliort time he 
remained in Milwaukee, Wis., after his ar- 
rival in this country, and afterward removed 
to Duluth. In 1883 he came toManannah, 
as above mentioned. 

Mr. Scliwarz was married September 21, 
1886, to Miss Addie Shephei'd, a native of 
Meeker county, Minn., and daughter of 
Charles and Adaline (Hartman) Sheplierd. 
Mr. Schwarz is the son of Christian S. Schwarz 
and wife, who still live in their native 
land, Mecklenburg, Germany. 






ILLIAM HAMILTON, an ex-Union 
soldier, and one of the most intelli- 
gent and prominent citizens in the northern 
part of Meeker county, is a resident of section 
36, Forest Prairie township, where he has 
lived since about the year 1870. 

Air. Hamilton was born in County Tyi'one, 
Ireland, on tiie 17th of March, 1833, and is a 
son of Thomas and Belle Hamilton. The 
mother died in Ireland, -when AVilliam was 
six years of age, and in 1811, the father 
brought the family to America, and settled 
in Bellview, Eden county, Mich., wdiere he 
lived until the time of his death, in 1880. At 
the time of his death the father vi'as about 
eighty years of age. He was an educated 
man and a school teacher for manv years ; 
clerk in the Presbyterian Church, of which 
he was an exemplary membei-, and otherwise 
was [irominent in tlie locality in which he 
lived. 

William Hamilton, the subject of this 
sketch,. began life for himself wlien about 
twenty years old. He came to Minnesota in 
1858, and remained at St. Paul and Minne- 



apolis until 1861,when, on the 26th of August, 
he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Volun- 
teer Infantry, and went into service, his regi- 
ment being assigned to the Fourteenth Army 
Corps.. He saw very active service, partici- 
pating in the battles of Chickamauga, 
Hoover's Gap, Mill Spring, Berryville, 
besides many skirmisiies. In one of these 
battles he lost the use of his left arm. He 
finally was honorably discharged at St. Paul, 
in August, 1861, and returned to Michigan. 

Mr. Hamilton was married at St. Anthony, 
now East Minneapolis, in September, 1804, 
to Miss Martha J. Dayton, a native of Penn- 
sylvania. They have five living children — 
Thomas C, Minna B., Earl, Katie and Olive 
G. Minna B. is now married to A. J. Lynn, 
a resident of Kingston township. 

In political matters Mr. Hamilton is a re- 
publican, and in religious matters the family 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

^-'■^^ 

jANIEL N. DANIELSON, a prominent 
I By farmer and stock raiser, residing on 
section 1, Danielson township, is a son of 
Nils Danielson, the earliest settler in the 
township, and after whom it was named. 
Daniel N"., the subject of this sketch, was 
born in Norway on the 15th of August, 
1853. In 1855 his parents brought him to 
the United States, and they settled on Rock 
Prairie, Wis., and after remaining there for 
two years they came to Meeker county, 
Minn., and bought eighty acres of Gov- 
ernment land on section 25 in Acton town- 
ship. In 1863, the father, Nils Danielson, 
took a homestead on section 2, Danielson 
township, and moved his family upon it, thus 
becoming the first settler within the limits 
of that township, and it afterward was 
named in honor of the family. The father 
lived there until the time of his death, July 
10, 1870, and his widow still lives on the old 



302 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



homestead with lier son, A. N. Danielson, 
There are six of the childivn still living, as 
follows — A. K, Daniel N., Hans, Ileiuy, 
Helen, wife of Hon. Even Evonson, and 
Mary, wife of Ole Nelson of Danielson. 

Daniel N. Danielson, the subject of this 
biography, came to the United States with 
his parents, and lived under the parental roof 
until 1S78, when he erected a house on a 
farm which he had become ])ossessed of on 
section 1, Danielson township. For some 
time he kept bachelor's hall and worked 
his farm, and was then, for two years, 
employed at car repairing at Fergus Falls, 
Barnesville and Glyndon. On the ITth of 
June, 1887, he was nxarried to Miss Betsy 
Hartz, and their union has been blessed with 
one child, named Nils Oskar, born March 30, 
1888. Mrs. Danielson was born February 
6, 1869, and is a daughter of Ole and 
Johanna Hartz, who are now residents of 
Acton. 



WELL KNOWN old settler in the 
^^^ southern part of Meeker county, is 
J. M. Pitman, a resident of section 14-, Cedar 
Mills township. 

Mr. Pitman is a native of Belknap county, 
K. 11., born on the 26th of May, 1819, and 
is a son of Ebenezer l*itman. He received a 
thorough education in his younger days, both 
preparatory and collegiate, and was grad- 
uated from Dartmouth College,an educational 
institution of high rank, in 1841. He began 
teaching while still a boy, and remained in 
his native State until 1853, when he came 
West and located in Wisconsin. He first 
taught school in that State, on Sand Prairie, 
near Beloit, and the following spring went 
to Menomonie, where he remained, following 
his profession, for six years, the greater 
portion of the time, being a teacher in a 
private school at that place. In 1860 he 
came to Meeker county, Minn., and took 



a pre-emption claim of 172 acres on section 
2, Cedar Mills township. During that year 
he ])ut in a crop covering an acre or so of 
land, and erected a log house on his claim, 
lie remained steadily upon the land until the 
time of the Indian outljreak when he, as did 
all the rest, left for safety. lie helped to 
fortify "the Point" in Cedar Lake, when 
the settlers gathered there. Later he went 
to Hutchinson, and when the " Hutchinson 
Guards" was organized at that place he 
joined them, and took charge of the commis- 
sai-y department. After the out break, Mr. 
Pitman occuj)ied his time with teaching in 
the winter and farming in the summer, until 
about 1870, after which he devoted his at- 
tention entirely to the farm until 1887, 
when he sold out and has since retired 
from participation in the cares of business. 
During the (>arly days of this country Mr. 
Pitman preached occasionally to the people 
on Sund.ay, and on the 22d of September, 
1867, assisted in organizing a Baptist Church 
in Greenleaf, one of the early religious organ- 
izations effected in the soutiiern part of the 
count}'. He has always taken an interest in 
all matters relating to the welfare of the 
township. When the organization of the 
township was effected in 1870, he was elected 
chairman of the supervisors, and retained the 
office for five successive years, and he was 
again elected to the same position in 1885. 



-*"i 



-^- 



^^ O. LINDGREN, one of the active, en- 
"i^^ terprising business men of the village 
of Dassel, is a member of the firm of Thomp- 
son & Lindgren, general merchants. He 
was born in Sweden, July 13, 1857, and is 
the son of Olaf and Anna Lindgren, natives 
of the same kingdom. He came to this 
country in 1879, and came to Meeker county 
direct, and during the summer of that year 
Avorked on a farm near Litchfield. In 



„»*^Rv^ 




y^^ ^ 





MEEKER COL'A'Ti; MINXESOTA. 



305 



November lie removed to tlie villae^e of Das- 
sel, and attended school until spring, when 
he entered the store of August Sallberg, as 
clerk, with whom he remained some two 
3'ears. He, at the expiration of his engage- 
ment, went to Minneapolis and engaged in 
Inisiness for a time. In the summer of 1SS3 
he returned to Dassel and formed a partner- 
ship with John Thompson, and the following 
September o]iened a stock of general mer- 
chandise in a building that they had erected. 
They have continued in that line of trade ever 
since, and are now doing a large and increas- 
ing trade, their fair dealing and ujn-ightness 
in all business matters winning them hosts of 
friends. 

Mr. Lindgren has taken great interest in 
all local politics, and was elected one of the 
village trustees in 1884. In 1885 he was 
chosen to fill the position of recorder, and 
has been re-elected his own successor ever 
since, and now fills that office. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, having 
Ijeen made a Mason hx Cakato Lodge, jSTo. 
134, in 1884. 

The marriage of Mr. Lindgren and Miss 
Mar\' Teterson took place in August, 1885. 



i^^EORGE S. BELKNAP is one of the 
\^i most prominent citizens of Swede 
Grove township. He is a son of 8te]ihen and 
Elizabeth Belknap, and was born on the 28th 
of March, 1828, in the village of Blooming- 
l)urgh, N. Y., eighty -four miles from Kew 
Yoi-k city. Mr. Belknap traces his ancestry 
back through some of the most notable fam- 
ilies in American history. He is ix grandson 
of Lieut. William Belknap, Avho entered the 
service of his countr\' in Col. Henry Beekman 
Livingston s Fourth Ilegiment, and continued 
in the service until the conclusion of the war. 
He was an original member of the New York 
State Society of the Cincinnati, formed by 
the officers of the American armv of the rev- 



olution at the cantonment on the banks of 
the Hudson river in Mav, 1783. Gen. Georire 
Washington was elerted president-general of 
the society, and held that honor until the day 
of his death. The officers of the American 
army having generall}' been taken from the 
citizens of America possessing high venera- 
tion for the character of that illustrious 
Eoman, Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus, who 
was found following the plough when the 
statesmen of his country sought him as the 
only one capable of leading their armies to 
victory, and clothed him with absolute 
power, and who, having achieved the salva- 
tion of his country, laid aside that power and 
gladly returned to his plough and the ob- 
scurity of domestic life, they thought they 
could with propriety denominate themselves 
the Society of the Cincinnati. 

The original design or idea seems to have 
been of an institution bearing resemblance to 
a military order. The subject of this sketch 
was elected a member of this organization 
July 4, 1861. 

George S. Belknap received an academical 
education, then went to New York City and 
learned the tailor's trade, at which he be- 
came an expeit, and was promoted to the po- 
sition of draughtsman, at a salary of 82,500 
per year. Duri ng the war he was inspector of 
army supphes and equipage in the quarter- 
mastei''s department, under Deputy Quarter- 
master-General, Colonel Yinton, which posi- 
tion he held until the close of hostilities, and 
then reengaging in his former business with 
his old-time employer. In 1ST7 he came to 
Meeker count}', Minn., and settled upon the 
farm where he now resides, on section 6, 
Swede Grove township, having previously 
taken the farm on a mortgage. A short time 
later he rented the farm and stock for a term 
of five years, and I'eturned to New York, 
but a short time later was obliged to return, 
as his tenant proved a very poor manager. 

Mr. Belknap was married, on the 23d of 



3o6 



MEEKER COUXTY, MIXXESOTA. 



February, 1851, to Ellen Craft, by whom he 
had five children, as follows— Mary Alice, 
born July 21, 1853 ; Lydia S., born March 18, 
1801 (;died in ISSl); Cora Ellen, born Sep- 
tember 9, 1863; Jessie, born February 15, 
186(1, and Ida Elizabeth. l)orn June 25, 1858. 
Ida E. married Alexander T. Caraccioli, a 
salesman in a wholesale music store in New 
York City ; Cora E. married Ilorton Parsons, 
born in this State, who has charge of a rail- 
road station in Dakota; and Jessie married 
Lewis Haiidlin, railroad station agent at 
Hancock, Minn. They have all been school 
teachers. Mr. Belknap's second marriage 
occurred on the 16th of August, 1874, when 
he wedded Sarah J. Mead, a daughter of 
Daniel and Eleanor Mead. Her first hus- 
band, Martin A. Mosier, was killed in the re- 
beUion ; her father was a soldier in the war 
of 1812. Her mother is still alive, a resident 
of New York State. Mr. Belknap's peo])le 
are all dead except one brother, who is a 
bookkeeper in Newberg, N.Y. Mr Belknap 
is one of the best posted and educated men 
in the county. In ]iiilitical uiatters he is a 
republican. 

^OL. J.ACOB M. HOWARD, owner of 
the Howard House, and other prop- 
erty in the village of Litchfield, including 
his beautiful residence. Lake Side, on the 
shores of the lovely Lake Ripley, received his 
military title for services rendered in the 
Union army during the late war. He came 
to Meeker county in 1867, and purchased a 
farm in the town of Greenleaf, where he 
remained until 1872, when he removed to 
Litchfield and erected the first independent 
elevator on the line of this railroad. He was 
engaged in the dual occupation of buying 
and shipping grain and carrying on his farm 
until 1879, when lie sold the latter. In 1880, 
he erected the Howard House at an outlay 



of someS19,000, which he has always leased. 
In 1886 he ]Hirchased forty five acres of land 
on the l)anks of Lake Ripley and erecte<i his 
family mansion, one of the most beautiful in 
this section of the State. In 1887 he retired 
from the grain trade, and contents himself 
with looking after his other interests and 
afl'airs. 

Colonel Howard is a native of Detroit, 
Mich., born July 16, 1812, and is the son of 
Hon. Jacob M. and Catherine (Shaw) How- 
ard. The father of our subject was a lawyer 
by profession, a native of Vermont, who had 
settled in Detroit in 1836, and for twelve 
3'eai's was one of the United States Senators 
from Michigan. Mrs. Catherine Howard, 
the mother of the Colonel, wtis a native of 
Massachusetts. 

The subject of this personal history re- 
ceived his primary education in the schools 
of his native city, and at the age of sixteen 
entered Union College, at Schenectady, X. 
Y., where he passed some three years. In 
the spring of 1862 he enlisted as a private 
in Comj)any F, Twenty-fourth Michigan In- 
fantrj", but for gallant and meritorious con- 
duct was rapidly promoted from rank to 
rank, until he became the assistant Adjutant 
General at the headquarters of the Twenty- 
third Army Corps, then under command of 
Major-General Hartsiiff, with the ra)d< of 
Lieutenant-Colonel. In this position he 
served until the close of the war, after which 
he went into the wholesale grocery business 
in Chicago, but two years later, his health 
failing, he gave up that line of trade and 
came to Meeker county, as above stated. 

The Colonel, who is active and enterpi'is- 
ing, is alwaj's foremost in any movement that 
is likely to accrue to the benefit of the com- 
nmnity. He was one of the ])rincipal t)rgan- 
izers of the Woolen Mill Company, and was 
the fii'st president of the board of directors. 
He is a stockholder in the Creamery Associa- 
tion, and vice-president of the company. He 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



307 



was elected maj'or of the city of Litchfield 
in 1SS5, and served one term, but has but 
little political aspiration. The Colonel is an 
influential member of Frank Daggett Post, 
No. 35, and of the Litchfield Dramatic Asso- 
ciation, of which he was one of the originat- 
ors. 

Col. J. M. Howard and Miss Emma Pen- 
no\'er were united in marriage in October, 
1868. The lady is a native of New York 
State, and is the daughter of Truman Pen- 
noyer, of Meeker county. 



PAUL M. PAULSON.a resident of section 
32, Acton township, was one of the 
noble " Boj's in Blue," who enlisted from 
Meeker county during the civil Avar. Mr. 
Paulson was born in Norwaj' on the 18th 
of Pebruarj', 1S3S, and is a son of Mathias 
and Mary Paulson, both natives of the same 
country. In l85T tliey removed to Canada, 
whei'e Paul remained until the spring of ISGO, 
Avhen he settled at St. Paul, Minn. There he 
I'emained at work until fall, Avhen he was 
joined by his parents, and they all came to 
Acton township. Meeker county, and the 
father selected a homestead. Paul remained 
with his parents most of the time, Avorking for 
different farmers during the summer months, 
until the 7th of June, 1862, when he enlisted 
in companjr E, Sixth Minnesota Volunteer 
Infantry, and Avent into service. He remained 
with his company untilJune, 1863, Avhen he 
was taken sick and Avas transferred to the 
invalid corps. He Avas finally discharged on 
the 7th of June, 1865, and returned to the 
home of his iiarents. 

On the 14:th of September, 1865, he Avas 
married to Miss Amelia Peterson, the cere- 
mony being performed in St. Paul. His wife 
Avas a native of Sweden, born October 6, 1843, 
and was a daughter of Andrew and Sophia 
Peterson. After their marriage the couple 



lived with Mr. Paulson's parents until the fol- 
loAving spring, Avhen Paul moved upon a home- 
stead Avhich he had taken on section 32, Ac- 
ton township, Avhere he still liA^es. He no\s 
owns a fraction over 13i acres of land, a good 
share of which is under cultiA'ation. Mr. and 
Mrs. Paulson have had nine children, as fol- 
loAvs — Mary, born Jvily 10, 1866; Ma! bias, 
born August 11, lS68,died November 11, 1870; 
Matilda, born February 12, 1871; Edward, born 
June 27, 1873 ; Carrie, born October 9, 1875 • 
Emma, born March 5, 1878 ; Eda, born August 
10, 1880; Leonora, born December 13, 1882: 
and Arnold, born May 22, 1885. The family 
are members of the Norwegian Lutheran 
Church, of Avhich they are active supportei's. 
Mr. Paulson takes an active interest in all 
matters affecting the welfare of his town- 
ship and is one of its leading citizens. In 
political matters he supports the republican 
party. 



UGUST JORDEN, afarmer who at pres- 



ent resides on section IS, in Green- 
leaf toAvnship, but Avho expects in a short 
time to remove to Cosmos, is a native of 
Sweden, and Avas born on the 20th of June, 
1861. He left his native land in 1880 for 
America, and upon his arrival first settled in 
Minneapolis, Minn., Avhere he remained for 
about two years and ahalf. At the expiration 
of that time he settled at Litchfield, in 
Meeker county, and remained there until 
1883, Avhen he purchased the place Avliere 
he noAV resides, on section 18, Greenleaf 
toAvnship. 

The parents of Mr. Jorden Avere also na- 
tives of Sweden. The}' remained in the land 
of their birth until 1882, when they came to 
the United States, and noAV live Avith August. 
August, the subject of this sketch, is a single 
man. In religious matters he attends the 
Lutheran Church, and in politics he is a re- 



3o8 



MEEKER COCXTY, MlXiXESOTA. 



publican. He is a good manager, industri- 
ous and frugal, and is getting a good start in 
liis farming operations. 



TaCOB C. INMAN, residing on section 
^ 29, ilanannali township, a liigldy re- 
sijocted and thrifty agriculturist, is a native 
of Butler county, Iowa, and was born on the 
20th of February, ISJS. His parents were 
Americans, and they were among the first 
settlers in that county. Their names were 
John and Catiiarine (Ullery) Inman. 

Jacob spent his early life in his native 
county, ami in June, 18C9, came to Meeker 
county, ]\linn., with his parents and the}' set- 
tled on section 20, Manannah township. 
There Jacob remained for eight years and 
then removed to section 29, and six years 
later he settled on his ])resent farm in the 
same section. He has eighty acres of land 
and has been very successful in his farming 
operations, also carr3'ing on stock-raising to 
a limited extent. 

On the 11th of JSTovember, 1884, Mr. Inman 
was married to Miss Susan Porter, and their 
marriage has been blessed with two children, 
the names of whom are Elsie and Malinda. 
Tiie children are both living. 

Mr. Inman's mother is still living in 
Meeker county, as is also the mother of his 
wife. 

In political matters l\fr. Inman atKliates 
with the tlemucratic party. 



^^^Jf^ CARLOSS 



w 



JEWETT, one of the 
oldest living settlers of Meeker 
county, and one of its most historical charac- 
ters, was born at "NVardslioro, Yt., June 9, 
1827, and is the son of Tiiomas and Sylvia 
(Ilaradon) Jewett. His father was born on 
the same farm Mav 1, 1794, and died in 



May, 1873; the motlier, whose birtii took 
place at Norton, Mass., November 25, 1799, 
died March 2, 1877. The paternal grand 
father of our subject, Thomas Jewett, was a 
sergeant in the Continental Army under 
Wasliington, and the maternal grandfather 
followed Gen. Israel Putnam across Charles- 
ton Neck after the battle of Bunker Hill, and 
afterwards helped fortify Dorchester Heights, 
which caused the evacuation of Boston. The 
latter, Isaac II. Ilaradon, lost his father at 
the massacre of Fort William Henry, and 
married Miss Annie Stone. 

The parents of the subject of this sketch 
moved to Steuben county, N. Y., in early 
life, and were married there. Tliey removed 
back to A^ermont after the biitii of their 
second ciiild, but in 1829 emigrated again to 
Steuben county, N. Y., where tliey event- 
ually died. Carloss was reared and educated 
in the district schools of that section, and, 
being of a studious mind, absorbed much in- 
formation, spending his evenings in mathe- 
matical studies at the family fireside. At 
the age of eighteen he commenced teaching 
school, but the next three years attended the 
academies at Addison and Genoa. He then 
worked at civil eno'ineering' on the New 
York Central railroad until 1851, when he 
went to the Isthmus and ran the preliminary 
survey for the Panama Pailroad, spending 
one year there, and participated in the cap- 
ture of San Loren Castle. Returning to his 
home, he was engaged in various raih'oad 
and telegraph works, until 1856, wjien became 
to Minnesota. He arrived at Forest City 
June 20,1856, with but $16.19 in his i)ocket, 
and June 27 took a claim on section 31, 
Forest Cit}' township. He was appointed 
sheriff in the summer of 1857, and was after- 
wards elected to the same office. He took a 
]iart in the Indian troubles in 18(')2, as 
detailed elsewhere, and with his wife ke})t 
house the farthest west of all the settlers. 
Tiie next year he spent on the "abandoned 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



309 



lands" of Louisiana, where he raised cotton. 
He then made his home on his farm until 
April, 1SS7, when he moved to Litchfield, 
and in May, 1S8S, took a tree-claim on land 
adjoining the village. lie has held the office 
of register of deeds of this county and 
various town offices. 

The Colonel was married November 10, 
1859, to Miss Annie, daughter of Pomeroy 
and Harriet (Buell) Warren, who was born 
in Wyoming county, N. Y., May 13, 1833. 
She has recentl}' parted from her husband 
through the machinations of lier friends, as 
have six out of eight of her sisters. They 
had no children, but have raised several 
orphans. Among these is Emma Jewett, 
the famous equestrienne, who was born in 
Chautauqua county, October 3, 1860, and is 
the daughter of Charles Peterson, a Scandi- 
navian, who was killed in the army. After 
his death his family came to Minnesota, and 
in 1870 the Colonel adopted the little girl. 
She learned to ride on the farm and gave her 
first exhibition in public at Minneapolis, in 
1880. She is now living in Syracuse, N. Y. 

©OCTOR J. H. KAUFFMAN, the lead- 
ing representative of the medical fra- 
ternity located at the village of Dassel, is a 
native of Newburgh, Cumberland county. 
Pa., born October 29, 1859, and is tlie son of 
Henry and Mary (Wilkins) Kauffman, both 
of whom are also natives of the " Old Key- 
stone State." The father of our subject has 
been for many years in the drug business at 
JSTewburgh, and is still carrying osi that busi- 
ness. The Doctor received his education in 
his native town, and, as he grew older, was 
taken into the store Ijy his father, where 
he gi'ew to be a proficient clerk. On attain- 
ing his majority his father gave him a co- 
partnership, and the firm name was changed 
to Kauffman & Son. In the fall of 1S81 



our subject matriculated at Jefferson Medi- 
cal College, at Philadelphia, and remained 
there throughout the terms of 1881 and 1882. 
He then entered the New York University, 
from which he was graduated in March, 1884. 
Returning to Newburgh, he opened an office 
in his native town, in connection with the 
drug business, an interest in which he still 
retained, but m 1887 sold out there with the 
intention of removing to Dakota, but, on his 
arrival in Minneapolis changed his mind and 
came to Dassel, and commenced practice in 
January of that year. He has gained the 
confidence and esteem of the people of the 
village by his honorable principles and excel- 
lent judgment, and the surrounding country 
have a deep regard for his general success, 
and his practice has already assumed good 
proportions and is on the increase. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, having 
been made a Mason in Big Spring Lodge, No. 
361, at Newville, Pa. 



-«-- 



OHN W. BENTON. Among the set- 
tlers of 1867 may be classed Mr. Benton, 
of Kingston township, who makes his home on 
his fine farm on section 10, where he carries 
on general farming. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of 
Oswego county, N. Y., born August 15, 1836, 
and is the son of John W. and Welthy 
(Widgar) Benton, natives of the Empii-e 
State and England, respectively'. About the 
year 1836, the father of our subject removed 
to Pennsylvania, where Joiin W., Jr., was 
brought up. His mother remained in York 
State, and our subject never saw her again, 
although he heard of her as beino- alive in 
the fall of 1SS7. His father died of consuni])- 
tion about 1840. He was a carpenter by 
trade. After his death, our subject went to 
live with his grandparents, with whom he 
remained until he was eight j'ears old, at 



3IO 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



wiiirli oai'ly age lie may l)e said to have 
coiiunenced the battle of life for himself. 
He i)assed liis time for the next nine yeai's 
in workino: at farm work and in e-oino- to 
school, after which for sevei'al summers he 
was employed upon the Pennsylvania Canal.- 
Thinking in the great West there was a 
better show for him, he came in this direc- 
tion, and locating in "Wisconsin, went to 
work for a man bj' the name of Winchester, 
of Winnebago county. He made his home 
in that part of the countr}^ until ISfil, part 
of the time engaged in the lumber business, 
but upon the Sth of September, of that year, 
he enlisted as sergeant in Company C, Four- 
teenth Wisconsin Infantry, and passed with 
that regiment, through the "baptism of 
fire," at Shiloh, in April, 18G2. He was dis- 
charged September 10, lSt)2, on account of 
injuries received in the field, but Februaiy 
13, 1865, he re-enlisted in the Eighth Wis- 
consin Infantry, from which he was dis- 
charged September 5th, following. After 
being mustered out, Mr. Benton settled in 
Fond du Lac county, in the Badger State, 
where he remained until he came to Meeker 
county. 

The subject of our personal narrative was 
married December 25, 1861, to Miss Julia 
Pratt, a native of Cortland county, N. Y., 
and daughter of Joshua and Ann (Rumsey) 
Pratt. Her parents, who were natives of 
Connecticut and New York, respectively, 
moved from New York when Mrs. Benton 
was but five years of age, to Illinois, from 
there to Wisconsin, and finally to Minnesota, 
where the fatiier died in 1883. Her mother 
died three years previously in AYisconsin. 
Mrs. Benton, whose birth took place July 3, 
18-t4, \vas reared and educated in Fon du 
Lac county, Wis. 

By this marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Benton 
are the parents of six children — Manan U. S.; 
Ida May, Mrs. Jcseph Manson, residing in 
Washington Territory; Ella J., wife of 



George Walter, now living in Mille Lacs 
county, this State ; Roy E., Stella R., and 
Wealth3' Aurelia. Mr. Benton is a republi- 
can in his ])olitics. 



-«- 



2T AMES W. POLK, an old settler and 
^ respected farmer residing on sec- 
tion 18, Forest Prairie township, was 
born in Bullitt county, Ky., October 14, 
1809, and is a son of Edward and Margaret 
(Brown) Polk. His fatiier and mother were 
the parents of a large family of children. 

The subject of this sketch spent his school 
da3's in his native county, receiving a good 
education, anil at one time began the study 
of medicine. In 1830 he went to Louisville, 
Ivy., and there learned the cooper's trade, 
which he afterward followed for about forty 
years. From 18-11 until 1816 he conducted 
his shop in Chicago, and then engaged in 
the dairy business near the same city. In 
1857 he came to Minnesota and located in 
Jordan, wliere he remained about two veal's, 
and then went to Henderson, where he was 
engaged in the coopering business, and 
remained until October, 1866, when he came 
to Meeker county, and located on his present 
place in Forest Prairie township. He has a 
good-sized farm, and devotes his attention 
chiefly to general farming, although in the 
past he has given considerable attention to 
stock raising. Mr. Polk is a democrat in 
politics, and is one of the leading citizens of 
the township in which he lives. He is a 
member of the Church of God, in Avhich he 
has been a deacon for thirteen years or 
more. 

Mr. Polk was first married on the 3d of 
January', 1831, to Miss Eliza Chastine. She 
gave birth to one chihl, Charles Wesley, and 
died when tiie child was three days old. 
The child died in infancy. 

Mr. Polk was again married in 1836. at 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



311 



Darwin, III., to Mary Oarr, who died in 
1S3S. Two children blessed this union — 
Nanc}' Caroline and James R. 

In 1841 our subject was married to Miss 
Zillah Brinton, with whom he lived for forty- 
two years. She died on the 3d of July, 
1883, and was buried in Forest Prairie town- 
ship. Her age at the time of her death was 
seventy -five years. 

On the lltli of November, ISSl, Mr. Polk 
was married to Mrs. Mary C. Irwin, of 
Indiana, his present wife. By her former 
marriage she had two daughters, both of 
whom married, and each became a Mrs. 
Powley. 

His third wife, Zillah, had one son that 
married Mr. Polk's daughter, Nancy C, and 
they had six children, all of whom lived but 
one. Their father being a soldier, their 
mother as well as themselves were left to 
Mr. P<jlk's care ; so that in his later years 
he raised five children. 



-^> 



IpLON. JONATHAN BURNETT SALIS- 
Jr^ BURY, the present county surveyor, 
was l.)orn in the State of New York, in 1824, 
and is the son of Dr. Gideon and Phoebe 
(Bui-nett) Salisbury. His father died when 
he was a mere infant, and he was brought up 
under a mother's care. When he was about 
two years old she moved to New Jersey, but 
later settled at Brooklyn, N. Y. His motlicr 
died in 1S50. 

The subject of our sketch, in 1845, having 
studied thoroughly in tlie mathematical line, 
and mastering the profession of surveyor, 
went to Ohio, where, the following spring, 
he enlisted in the First Ohio Regiment of 
Volunteers, and served his one year's term of 
service in the Mexican war, with the little 
column under Genei-al Zachary Taylor. He 
wasdiscliargedat New Orleans, in the spring 
of 1847, but returned to Mexico, in the quar- 



termaster's department, and was at the City 
of Mexico when the war closed. He re- 
turned to Ohio, where he made his residence 
until the spring of 1850, when he removed to 
Iowa, where he lived for six years, engaged 
in public surveys in various parts of Iowa, 
"Wisconsin and Minnesota. While running 
township lines through what is now Meeker 
county, in the summer of 1855, he was so 
much pleased with the country that he stuck 
a claim stake, on sections 18 and 19, in what' 
is now Kingston township. At that time 
there were no other people, except those 
of surveying parties, within the limits of the 
county. Ileturning to his home in Scott 
county, Iowa, in October, of that year, he 
there passed the winter, but in the spring of 
ISoT). he started for his new-found Eden with 
his family, which consisted of his wife, Mar- 
garet L. (Weymer) Salisbury, and one child, 
Frank L. They were accompanied by his 
father-in-law, Jacob Weymer, Sr., his wife 
and two sons — Jacob Jr. and Josejjh. Mi-. 
Salisbmy had brought all his goods with him, 
and the trip consumed about one month. 
To one large, Avide tracked wagon were 
hitched four yoke of oxen, and to another 
wagon a team of horses was attached. A 
good share of the time was spent in getting 
through the "big Avoods," there being no 
other road than a trail, and a good deal of 
chopping was necessary. This trail was cut 
so that one team could barely get through, 
and is the same that for 3'ears was known as 
the "Old Territorial Eoad." The party, 
however, finally reached the claim, and their 
first work was to get up a little cabin, the 
remains of which still mark the spot. This 
was one of the very first houses erected in 
the county. Here they settled and here he 
carried on farming for years. At the time 
of the Indian outbreak, he left the farm and 
went to Kingston which he helped to fortify. 
Foi" two weelcs the family occupied a house, 
and then all the refuiiees who had o-athered 



312 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



there spent their nights in the grist mill, 
■\vliicli was being used as a fort. Mr. Salis- 
bury reniainecl at Kingston for about one 
niontii, wlien his family returned to the old 
home in Iowa, and he enlisted in the 
" Mounted Eangers," or First Minnesota Cav- 
alry, and served through the Indian troubles 
on tlie borders, one year. He then enlisted 
in Hatch's Independent Battalion of Minne- 
sota Cavalry for three years or during the 
war, and served on the frontier. IT})on 
being honorably discharged in the spring of 
1861), he again returned to his farm and cul- 
tivated it until Jjine, 1875, when he removed 
to Litchfield, where he has since lived. In 
ISGS he was elected to represent his district 
in the Legislature, and made a ci'edi table rec- 
ord. In 1870 he was elected county surveyor, 
and has either held that office or been de- 
puty most of the time since. Mr. Salisbury 
is a prominent member of the Grand Army 
of the Republic and takes an active interest 
in all its affairs. He and his wife have a 
familv of eight children. 



— — «•- J^^ ^^^—^ 

«sIDREVV EVENSON, an enterprising 
fanner residing on section 7, Green- 
leaf township, is a son of Hans and Christine 
Evenson, and a native of Norway, born Octo- 
ber 30, 181:7. A full sketch of his parents, 
who M-ere prominent old settlers of Meeker 
count}', will be found elsewhere in this 
volume. Andrew came to the United States 
with his parents in 1857, and they first set- 
tled in Scott county, Minn., and remained 
there and in AVright county for three years, 
and at the expiration of that time located in 
Meeker county. The father took a claim on 
section 8, in what is now Greenloaf town- 
ship, where Andrew spent his youth, in the 
same industrious and frugal manner common 
to the 3'outh of his nationality. He was 
with the family through all the horrors of 



tlie Indian outbreak, and shared tiic dano-oi-s 
and pi-ivations of those terrible times with 
the hardiest of men. 

In 1876 he was mai'i'ied to Matilda Bjor- 
hns, a daughter of OleK. and Mary Bjorhus. 
She w;is born in Norway, September 23, 
1851, and came to the United States in 1871. 
Five children have blessed their uni(m — 
Hans 0., born March 22, 1877; Martha C, 
born August 6, 1878 ; Frederick E., born 
April 4, 1881 ; Petra Anette, born November 
25, 1883, and Olga M., born January 25, 
1886. IVIr. Evenson is at present (1888) chair- 
man of the board of township supervisors, 
and is also a member of the board of direc- 
tors of the Farmers' aiul Merchants' Cooper- 
ative Elevator Association. He has taken 
an active interest in all public matters, and 
is to-day one of the leading citizens of his 
township. He has a valuable farm where he 
devotes his attention to general farming and 
stock-raising, in Avhich he has been very suc- 
cessful, as he has accumulated a comfortable 
property through his own industry and care- 
ful management. In his younger days Mr. 
Evenson had but slight educational advan- 
tages, only having the privilege of attending 
school twenty-three days. His natural ability 
and self-educational efforts, however, have 
not been in vain, and he has thoroughly 
mastered the English language, and acipiired 
a varied and general fund of useful knowl- 
edge. 



>y.^^ 



fAMES P. DAVIS, an enterprising and 
]irospei'ous agriculturist of L)assel town- 
ship, is the son of Stephen and Mary (Pat- 
terson) Davis, and was l)orn in Wayne county, 
Ohio, March 14, 1830. His parents were 
very early settlers in that portion of the 
"Buckeye" State, but removed to Meigs 
county in 18-41, also then a new county, 
and made their home there until 1855, when 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



315 



they ciinie to Minnesota aiul settled at the 
village of Caledonia, Houston county, where 
the father carried on his trade and bought 
"overnnient land. He remained there until 
1859, when during the excitement about 
Pike's Peak, he started for that country, but 
soon changed his mind and settled in Jo 
Daviess county. 111., where he died in 1871. 
The mother died in Ida county, Iowa, in 1882. 
The subject of our sketch remained with 
his parents until he was twenty-two years of 
age, and followed various employments until 
his marriage, Ajn-il 10, 1859, with Miss 
Eachel Russell, a native of Indiana. After 
his marriage he remained in Houston county 
until the fall of 1860, when, in company with 
Isaac Russell, Sr., and John Russell, he came 
to Meeker county, and followed hunting and 
exploring the countj^ through that winter, 
and in the following autumn went to Illinois 
with the intention of enlisting in the United 
States army, but was rejected, and having 
disposed of his property in this State, re- 
mained in the " Sucker State " until 1866. 
lie then came to Meeker county and took up 
a claim early in July, on section 10, of Das- 
sel township. He commenced to improve 
his place, working at the same time on the 
railroad. The next fall he worked in the 
Forest City grist mill. He did not neglect 
his farm, but got it in shape for next \'ear's 
crop. In 1868 he helped clear the present 
site of the village, chopping cord-wood, etc., 
and thus, while developing his farm, provided 
for the wants of his family until 1872, since 
which time he has devoted the most of his 
time to his calling. In 1876 he bought a 
threshing machine in company with George 
Brower, with theaccompanying steam engine, 
and in 1879 became the sole owner of the 
outfit, and carries on that business in con- 
nection with his farm. The latter consists of 
160 acres of land on section 10, and besides 
this he is the half owner of 100 acres more on 
section 16. 



Mr. and Mrs. Davis are tlie parents of ten 
children — Stephen W., born Deceml)er 29, 
1859; Reuben B., born. December 15,1861; 
Mary J., born January 17, 1864; Wealthy 
M., born May 21-, 1866; William E., born 
October 25, 1868; Isaac A., born December 
25, 1870, died April 5, 1880 ; James H., born 
June 11, 1873 ; Emma B., born March 6, 
1876 ; Annie Z., born November 2, 1878, and 
John E., born Januaiy 8, 1882. Stephen is 
married and lives in Dakota; Reuben, also 
married, makes his home on section 16, this 
town ; Mary J. (Mrs. C. G. Waller) lives at 
Kingston, and Wealthy (Mrs. W. II. Bran- 
ham\ resides in Litchfield. 



SHARLES SHEPHERD, an ex Union sol- 
dier, and one of the most intelligent, 
prominent and successful farmers in the 
northern part of the count}^, was born in 
Belgium, in the year 1826. His parents 
were John and Catharine (ShepeUe) Shep- 
herd, the father being a native of England 
and the mother a native of Belgium. When 
Charles was eight or ten years of age the 
family removed from Belgium to England, 
and six years later they came to the 
United States and located in Massachusetts, 
where the parents died. Charles remained 
in Massachusetts until he had arrived at 
about the age of twenty-one, when he went 
to Rhode Island, but nine or ten months 
later he returned to BaUardvale, Mass. 
Two years later he started West, and for 
ten years lived in Wisconsin. While there, 
on the 27th of February, 1865, he enlisted 
in Company A, Fifty-first Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry, and was mustered into the 
service. He remained with his regiment 
until the 22d of August, 1865, when he was 
honorably discharged and returned to AVis- 
consin. In 1866 he came to Meeker county, 
Minn., and located on a farm on section 20, 



3i6 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Manaiinali township. He now lias a valu- 
able i'urm of 220 acres of land and is in com- 
fortable circumstances. 

]\rr. Shepherd was first married, when a 
young man, to Julia Iliggins, who died. B\' 
this marriage he had three children. 

On the IJrth of August, 1S57, lie was mar- 
ried to Miss Adaline Ilartman, who was 
born in Germany April 2, 1S57. This mar- 
riage has been blessed with twelve children. 

J\ LEXANDER L. GORDON, an intelli- 
^ gent and 'industrious farmer living 
upon section 10, Collinwood township, is a 
native of Westchester county, N. Y., born 
August 1, 1850, and is the son of Will- 
iam and Jane (Ferguson) Gordon, who had 
come to America fi-om the land of their birth, 
Scotland, some time previous. The family 
removed in the boyhood of our subject to 
Fond du Lac county. Wis., where he re- 
mained until eighteen vears of age. At 
tiiat time he commenced life for himself as 
brakeman on the railroad, which he followed 
for two years. The following summer he 
was in the employ of the Government, driv- 
ing team, on the line between the United 
States and Manitoba. From that time on, 
for several years, he was engaged in several 
occupations, all of them, however, attended 
by hard labor, sometimes in the pineries, and 
sometimes in the harvest Held, until his 
marriage. 

This happy event took ]ilace March 21, 
187S, at which time he wedded Miss Martha 
Delong, the daughter of Madison and Eliza- 
beth (Lunsford) Delong, a sketch of whom 
appears elsewhere in this Albusi. Mrs. Gor- 
don was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, 
IMarch 10, 1858, and came to Meeker county 
with her i)arents in 1866. 

At the time of his marriage Mr. Gordon 
settled down ti) farm life on section lo, where 



he now lives and where he has some sixty 
acres of land mostly under cultivation. He 
has held several of the town offices, chief 
among which is that of chairman of the 
board of supervisors, which he occupied for 
seven j'ears. He is the parent of four chil- 
dren — Elizabeth Jane, born April 2, 1^7'.»; 
William, born Decemljer 15, 1880; Elma, 
born March 11, 1883 ; and Grace, boru Jan- 
uary 1, 1886. 



LI BORING, an ex-Union soldier, is a 
'^J^ farmer who resides on section 10, For- 
est Prairie township. He is a native of Clin- 
ton county, Ohio, born May 22. 1836, and is 
a son of Absalom and Isabellc (Williams) 
Boring. His father and mother were natives 
of Baltimore county, Md., and Harrison 
county, Ya., respectively. They are both 
dead. The father died in Indiana, at the 
age of eighty-one years, April 28, 1888. He 
was a farmer; had settled in Indiana in 1836, 
and was one of the pioneers of that State. 
The mother was born in 1809 and died Feb- 
ruary 5, 1863. They were the [tarents of 
eleven children, eight boys and three girls, 
the names of whom were as follows — Thomas 
William, Lafayette, Eli, John A., I'^lizabeth, 
Sarah, Jesse E., Henry, Harrison, William 
and Eliza. 

Eli Boring, the subject of this sketch, re- 
mained at home during his boyhood and 
school days. On the 20lh of February, 1864, 
he enlisted in Comjiany D, Eighth Indiana 
Cavah'v, and went into the service. He saw 
active service and participated in numerous 
battles, engagements and skirmishes. He 
was shot in the side at the battle of Camp- 
bellton, Ga., and remained in the hospital for 
several weeks. On the iDth of September, 
1S64, he was taken prisonei-and was held for 
some three months, after which he was in the 
hospital at Annapolis, ]\1(1., for three weeks. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



317 



anil, after a short furlough, returned to his 
I'ea'inient. lie was tinally mustered out July 
20, 1S65, near Raleigh, X. C, and returned to 
his home in Indiana. In the fall of 1868 he 
came to Meeker county, Minn., and located 
in Forest Prairie township. In 1882 he went 
to Minneapolis and engaged in the milling- 
business, but spent his winters at lumbering, 
continuing this for three years, and then 
returned to Forest Prairie and settled where 
he now resides. 

Mr. Boring was married on the 2d of No- 
vember, 1886, to Miss Victoria Spaulding, a 
daughter of Danville Spaulding, an old and 
respected citizen of Forest Prairie township. 
They were married at Litchfield b}^ N. C. 
Martin. 

Our subject is a man of the strictest integ- 
rity, and is respected by all who know hi;n. 
In ]iolitical nu^tters he affiliates with the 
repul)lican ]Kirty. 



S^HARLES M. AHLSTROM. The subject 
^ of this sketch is an enterprising and 
successful farmer and stock-raiser, who. re- 
sides on section 31, Harvey township. He is 
a native of Chisago county, ilinn., where he 
was born on the 8th of August, 1859, and he 
is a son of Andrew M. and Carrie Ahlstrom. 
In 1864 he removed, with his parents, to 
Meeker county, and the family settled on 
section 30, where Charles M. still resides. 
His parents were both natives of Sweden. 
They came to the United States in 185-1. 
They are both still living. 

The subject of our sketch, Charles, grew to 
manhood in Meeker county, attending school 
as opportunity offered, and assisting his 
fatlier on the farm. On the 27tli of Maj', 
1882, he was married to Mary Peterson, of 
Swede Grove township. Their niari-iage 
has been blessed with tliree cliildren, whose 
names are Stacie, Carl M. and Clearence A.. 



the last named being an infant. Mr. and 
Mrs. Ahlstrom are exemplary members and 
active supporters of tke Lutheran Church. 

In political matters Mr. Ahlstrom is a re- 
publican. He now owns 160 acres of land, 
and has a good start and good prospects for 
future success. 



M LEXANDER D. ROSS, the present 
J^Jl. postmaster of Litchfield, was born 
in Upper Canada, July 25, 1815, and is the 
son of Alexander and Frances Bassett (Con- 
ners) Eoss, the former a native of Glasgow, 
Scotland, and the latter of Bangor, County 
Down, Ireland. His jxirents came to Amer- 
ica, settling in Canada, prior to his birth, and 
there, in the town of Southani]iton, where 
the father was engaged in mercantile trade, 
our subject received his earl^^ education, and 
there grew to manhootl. In 1866, he removed 
with his parents to Chicago, III., where he 
commenced work with the American Express 
Company, with whom he remained until 1872, 
when he came to Minnesota. He located first 
at St. Cloud, but one year later removed to 
Litchfield, where, in August, 1873, he took 
charge of a grain elevator, now the M. and 
D. which he has superintended ever since. 
In July, 1887, he took charge of the postotfice 
of the village, having been appointed to that 
position a short time previousl\\ He is a 
thorough democrat politically, and believes 
that in its principles lies the true germ of civil 
liberty. He is a member of the present coun- 
cil of Litchfield, and holds a high place in the 
respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens. 

Mr. Eoss united in marriage, June 11, 1872, 
with Miss Elizabeth M. Becker, a native of 
New York, and daughter of Herman and 
Margaret Becker. By this union there has 
been born two children, who bear the names 
of Carrie and George. Mr. Eoss is a mem- 
ber of Golden Fleece Lodge, No. 86, A. F. 



3iS 



MEJ<KKR COUiV lY, MlNjWKSOTA. 



and A. M., Eablwiii Cliapter, Ko. 39, R. A. 
M. ; l\[elita Coiniiiandery, No. 17, K. T., and 
witli his estimable wife liolds communion 
witii the Presbyterian Cimrcli. 



JOHN SMITH, a resident of Darwin 
township, lives on section 15, where he 
carries on general farming and stock raising. 
He is a native of the Grand Duchy of Lux- 
emburg, born in 1839. lie was reared 
among the vine-clad hills of the land of his 
birth until he was nineteen years of age, 
when he came to America,, and that year, 
1S5S, settled near Aurora, 111., Avhere he 
made his home until eight years later, when 
he removed to Minnesota and located on the 
farm in Darwin township where he now 
lives. Like so man^' of his countrymen who 
seek to find in America the fortune and 
freedom they lack in their native land, Mr. 
Smith was a ]ioor man when he came to this 
countr}^, but by the ])erseverance in his work 
and the natural thrift that seems to be 
inherent in the average German, he has accu- 
mulated a fair share of this world's goods. 

Mr. Smith was first married in ISfio, to 
Miss Anna Peiffer, who became the mother 
of seven children, all of whom are living at 
the present but one. Their names are — John, 
Peter, Michael, Anna, P'raidv and "William. 
Mrs. Anna Smith tlied in February, ISSl, 
and Mr. Smith was married the second time. 
The Inide on this occasion was Miss Mas*o-ie 

CO 

Kanzler, and the wedding occurred in No- 
vember, 1883. By this last marriage there 
have been born three children, only two of 
whom, however, are now living — Emma aiul 
Nicholas. 

Both Mr. Smith and his wife are meml)ers 
of the Roman Catholic Church and good 
Christian people. Politically Mr. Smith is 
what may be tei-med an independent, not 
being Ijound to party. 



UTHER W. LEIGHTON, the junior 



|2i^ member of the lirni of Osterlund & 
Leighton, general merchants of the village 
of Dassel, came to that place in the fall of 
1872, and in the spring of 187-1 opened the 
first wagon shop, in which he continued to 
carry on the business until 1S81. Closing- 
out, then, his interests in that mechanical 
trade, he entered into the hanhvare business 
in company with J. M. Johnson, and con- 
tinued in that line until Januar}^ 1, 1887, 
when, after selling his interest to his partner, 
he entered into the new copartnership, the 
firm nametl above. 

Mr. Leighton, who is a native of Penobscot 
county. Me., born March 25, 1850, and the son 
of Stillman W. and Thressa E. Leighton, re- 
ceived his education in his native State. He 
left that portion of our great Republic in 1872, 
and came directly to this ])art. as above stated. 

NDREW GUNDERSON, a carpenter 



and farmer who resides on section 15, 
Danielson township, was born in Norway 
on the 16th of August, 1836, and is a son of 
Gunder and Anna Ingebretson. His early 
life was spent in his native land, where he 
worked at various occupations and also 
learned the carpenter's trade. He renuiined 
in the land of his birth until 1870, when he 
came to the United States and came direct 
to Minneapolis, Minn., where he remained 
for six years employed at carpenter work. 
He was so pooi' at that time that he was 
obliged to leave his family in the old country, 
and had to borrow the mone}' with which he 
paid his fare. During the first three years 
he was here he earned enough money to send 
for his family, which required five tickets at 
§61 each. His oldest son came some two 
years before the balance of the family. The 
father, with the aid of his son, during this 
time, erected a comfortable house for himself 
at Minneapolis. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIXXESOTA. 



319 



On the 4th of November, 1876, he moved 
his family to Meeker county, Minn., and set- 
tled on a farm in Cosmos township, but after 
getting- his family settled he returned to 
Minneapolis and worked at his trade for two 
years, after which he returned and moved to 
the farm which he purchased on section 15, 
Danielson township, where he has since lived. 
Since that time he has continued to work at 
his trade most of his time while his family 
carried on the farm. lie now has one of the 
most valuable farms in the township, con- 
sisting of 280 acres, upon which he has placed 
fine building improvements. 

Mr. Gunderson was married before he left 
Norway to Miss Bertha Olson, a daughter of 
Ole and Anna Peterson, who was born Au- 
gust 20, 1830. Their marriage has been 
blessed with nine children, as follows — Gil- 
bert, born February 17, 1857; Nettie, born 
May 4, 1858; "William, born Januarj" 15, 
1860 ; Anna, born January 10, 1862 ; Au- 
gust, born September 6, 1863 ; Beathe, born 
August 9, 186-4, died in 1867 ; Maria, born 
March 21, 1868; Beathe, born December 10, 
1870 ; and Albert, born June 2, 1875. All 
were born in Norway except Albert, who 
was boi'u in Minneapolis. Nettie married 
Ole Blaken, a merchant in Grafton, D. T., 
and they have three children. William mar- 
ried Anna Amundson, and is a farmer in Dan- 
ielson township. Anna married Knute John- 
son, a I'ailroad section boss at Minneayjolis. 
The family are members of tlie Norwegian 
Lutheran Church. 

Mr. Gunderson has taken an active inter- 
est in public matters and has lield the ofhce 
of township supervisor for four years. In 
political matters he affiliates with the demo- 
cratic party. 



/I^LE NELSON, one of the leading ngri- 
V^^^y culturists of Acton, is a native of Nor- 
way, born February 16, 1842, and is the son 



of Nels and Mary Nelson, and came to the 
United States in 1866, first stopping in Red 
Wing, Minn., where he was engaged in tailor- 
-ing for one year. The next two years were 
passed by him in the same employment in 
Minneapolis, but growing tired of working 
for other parties after two years, and Ijeing 
anxious to better his financial condition, he 
removed to Acton, this county, and took a 
homestead on section 8, where he now lives. 
He has a fine farm of 20<i acres of excellent 
arable land, all of wliicii he has made by his 
own energy and perseverance. 

Mr. Nelson was married in Noi-way, to 
Miss Martha J. Farrisdatter Haabetsbroen. 
They are the parents of the following chil- 
dren— Thoi'wald E., born October 4, 1864 ; 
Nikoline Marie, born September 28, 1868, died 
May 19, 1879; Nels, born January 5, 1870; 
Severin, born April 6, 1872 ; Odin, born Jan- 
uary 6, 1874 ; Mina, born February 16, 1877 ; 
Martin, born March 6, 1880; Jens H., born 
December 30, 1881 ; and Marius, born May 
15, 1883. 

Thorwald is attending the academy at 
Minneapolis, and Nels, the high school at 
Litchfiekl. The other children are at home 
with their parents. Mr. Nelson has occupied 
the office of road overseer for two or three 
terms, and that of school director for several 
years. He had learned tiie tailoring trade 
in his far away native land, but since his 
coming here he has devoted his attention 
solely to agricultural pursuits, and has met 
with abundant success in this calling. lie 
devotes a large siiare of his labors to stock 
raising. 



fAMES H. THOMS, a resident of Union 
Grove township, is one of the successful 
farmers and stock-raisers in the northern part 
of the county. 

The subject of our sketcli is the son of 
James and Lucy (Brown) Tlioms, and was 



320 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



born in tlie town of Sebec, Me. Wliile he 
■\vas quite young iiis ])arents removed to Kil- 
inornac. Me., where his father engaged in 
farming and lumbering, but finding it a hard 
place to make a living in, he moved to Ban- 
gor, Me. When James II. was fourteen 
years of age he learned the carpenter's trade, 
and remained at home until he was twenty; 
then, with some acquaintances, he left for the 
AVest, stojtping in Wisconsin a slioi't time, 
lie came to Minnesota in the fall of 1849. 
It was then a tei'ritory, St. Paul and St. 
Anthonj' being small villages at that time, 
and Minneapolis was not even started. Haul- 
ing supplies to the Indians was the main busi- 
ness done outside the villages. 

Mr. Thorns engaged for four years in haul- 
ing supplies from St. Paul to Fort Ripley, 
and any other points where the Indians were 
to be paid their annuities. 

Some of the log hotels, or stopping places, 
had squaw landladies, and others were kept 
by bachelors. Mr. Thoms left the road and 
worked at his trade for two years, and finally 
took up a claim in Eden Prairie township, 
si.Kteen miles south of Minneapolis, in Henne- 
pin count}'. 

On August 12, 1855, he married Miss 
Annette Y. Ilamblet, of Eden Prairie, a 
young lady, nineteen years of age. He 
remained on his fai'm a few years, then 
moved to Chanhassen, Carver county, where 
he stayed but a short time, then moved to 
Castle Eock, Dakota county, where he stayed 
a few years, engaged in farming. Then, 
hearing of the many virtues of Meeker county, 
he removed to Union Grove township in the 
fall of 1867, and took up a homestead on sec- 
tion 2(». Five years later, he sold that place 
and bought a farm of 160 acres, on section 
25 and 3(*i. where he has since lived. 

The farm is one of the most valuable in 
the townsiiip, and the building improvements 
are a credit to the neighborhood in which 
they are located. 



j\Ir. and ]\rrs. Thoms have been blessed 
with nine children, seven of whom are now 
living, two girls and live boys — Frank, the 
eldest, is married, and lives at Newark, D. 
T., where he is, in company with a partner, 
running a arain elevator. E. L. and D. C. 
Thoms, the two next oldest, own a roller 
flour mill at Ashby, Grant county, Minn. 
The fourth son, Ben. II., is a graduate from 
(Airtiss' Busiiiess College, Minneapolis, and 
is in Minnesota at the present time. One 
daughter is a stenogra]iher, and the oWwx is 
a seamstress ; both reside in Minneapolis at 
present. Earl W., the youngest, remains at 
home with his parents. In politics, Mr. 
Tiioms is a strong democi'at. He came to 
the county comparatively a poor man, but is 
now well fi.xed as to this world's goods, and 
is rated as one of the most solid and substan- 
tial citizens of the county. He is truly a 
pioneer in the State, and also of the county. 

©ANIEL F. SMITH. Among the quiet, 
sober, and iiulustrious Gernum citizens 
of Meeker county, who have left their beau- 
tiful fatherland to seek upon the Western 
Continent the freedom from conscription and 
military despotism denied them in their 
own country, there is no more prominent in- 
dividual than the gentleman here presented, 
who is a resident upon section 16, Ellsworth 
township. He is a native of Germany, and 
is the son of Henry and Dora Smith. Ilis 
parents were also born in that classic land, 
although of French ancestry. 

Our subject was reared beneath his native 
skies, and there received the education com- 
mon to the youth of that land, and there, 
having attained the years of manhood, Sep- 
tember 12, 1857, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Fredericka Sinnerman. In 1862 
the young couple left their home amid the 
hills and valleys of Germany, and crossed 



MEEKER COUNTY, .ir/XXESOT.I. 



321 



the ocean to seek a newer home in free 
America. They settled near the town of 
Kunda, McHenr}^ county, 111., where they 
lived until the fall of 1875, when they came 
to Meeker county and settled where they 
now live, and where Mr. Smith has a fine 
farm of ISO acres of excellent land, on sec- 
tions 15 and 16, and on which he has erected 
an excellent residence, commodious barn and 
neat granary. While a resident of Nunda 
he showed his enterprise by subscribing to 
the institution of the pickling and preserving 
Avorks of that place, in which he owned sev- 
eral shares of stock ; and since coming to 
this county he has ever been foremost in 
anything that seemed to be for the benefit of 
the community. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of 
eight children — Mary (Mrs. Joseph Earth, 
,who Avas married September 12, 187S, the 
anniversary of her parents' wedding), Will- 
iam, Frederick, George, Emma (now Mrs. 
Ludwig Martens), Clara, Bertie, and Minnie. 
William is also married, and follows the 
trade of moulder in Minneapolis. 

Mr. Smith is a republican, politically, and 
has held the offices of town supervisor, and 
of school director and justice of the peace, 
and is a representative man. He and his 
family belong to the Lutheran Church. 



/^HARLES H. DART, the enterprising 
\^^ and energetic Hour and feed dealer of 
Litchfield, was born in Forest City, Meeker 
county, Minn., February 5, 18ri2, and is the 
son of Wait H. and Calista (Willis) Dart. 
His father is one of the oldest settlers of the 
county, having come here in April, 1856, and 
the following July took up a claim two miles 
east of the prospective village of Forest Cit^', 
upon which he settled, his family consisting 
of his wife and one child, coming here in 
Kovember. Ho I'aised one crop upon his 



farm, and then removed to this village. He 
Avas at that place during tlie tr;igic scenes of 
the Indian outbreak, and Avas an actiA'e par- 
ticipant in most of the stirring events of that 
unhappy epoch. He entered into the mer- 
cantile business in Forest City about the 
time of tlie arrival of the soldiers, and from 
1863 to 1865 had charge of the postoffice. In 
1869 he removed to the town of Greenleaf, 
where he took u]) a homestead, upon Avhich 
he remained initil 1871, and tlien came to 
Litchfield, where he has I'esided ever since, 
diaries remained at home, enjoying the 
opportunities for scliooling afforded him 
during the winters, and working in the sum- 
mer months at Avhatever he could turn his 
hand to. At the age of eighteen, with a 
commendable enterprise, he initiated the 
business which he now follows, and is makino- 
it a success. He is ranked 



ligh among the 



rising young business men of the village, and 
is rapidly and surely extending his opera- 
tions. 

On Christmas day, December 25, 1883, C. 
H. Dart and Miss Nellie LockAvood, also a 
native of this county, Avere united in the 
bonds of weillock. They are the parents of 
one child — Ray. 

|ifej)ETER LUND, a resident of section 17, 
1^ Greenleaf township, is one of the lead- 
ing farmers and stock-raisei-s in the southern 
portion of the county. He was born in 
Sweden, on the 15th of August, 1846. His 
younger days were silent in his natiA'e land, 
and in 1872 he came to the LTnited States, 
and located in Minneapolis, Avhere he re- 
mained for eight years. He AA'as at work in 
the Buell, Nutten & Co. flouring mill in 
1878,Avhen the terrible mill explosion occurred, 
in which eighteen were killed and others 
seriously injured. His escape at tliat time 
Avas almost miraculous. He was attending 
to the machinery, and a few moments before 



"322 



MEEKER COUXTY. MIXXESOTA. 



the disaster he Avas talking with a fellow- 
employe, named Peter Ilogberg. The latter 
suo-o-ested getting some water, but Mr. Lund 
tokl iiim to attend to the machinery and he 
would get the water. Accordingly, Wv. 
Lund took the pail and started, having to go 
about 200 feet. He had just stepped outside 
of the door, Avhen he noticed a queer smoke 
coming from the suction pipe of the Wash- 
burn A mill, which stood about 100 feet 
from the mill in which he worked. He had 
only gone about 100 feet when the first ex- 
plosion occurred, and he was thrown to the 
('■round, lie scrambled to his feet and tried 
to run, when the next explosion took place, 
and he was again thrown down. On his 
hands and knees he crawled under a box car, 
and the deln-is was falling thick around him. 
A few moments later he ran to where the mill 
had been, to rescue Ilogberg, but he found 
the mill leveled to the ground, and nothing 
was ever found of his companion except a 
few pieces of bones and a knife blade. Out 
of all the men who worked in the three mills, 
he, and one other, were the only ones who 
escaped unhurt. 

On March 27, 1881, Mr. Lund came to 
Meeker county, and settled in Greenleaf 
township, where he still lives. He has a 
valuable farm of 210 acres of land, and has 
splendid farm buildings. Mr. Lund was 
married Januiiry 1, 1875, to Anna Anderson, 
and they have had seven children, all of 
whom are living, as follows— Charley A., 
born March 5, 187<i ; Alma II., born Novem- 
ber 29, 1877; Levi Y., born January 23, 
1880 ; Mimmie V., born May 5, 1882 ; Edward 
E., born November 12, 1883; Oscar T., born 
Se])tember 27, ISSo, and Amanda Y., born 
January 27, 1888. The family are members 
of the Swedish Lutheran Churcii. 

The parents of Mr. Lund were natives of 
Sweden. Tliey came to America a number 
of years ago, and are now residents of 
Meeker countv. 



"OHN H. REMICK, one of the prominent 
residents of the village of Dassel, and a 
leading ))ioneer of the county of McLeod, 
was born in Painesville, Ohio, August 26, 
1830. His father died when he was quite 
young, and tiie family was In-oken up, and 
for a time he was an inmate of the housoliold 
of his grandfather. "When about thirteen he 
commenced life Idv hiring out at whatever he 
could find to do, and at sixteen began to 
learn the blacksmith's trade. In the spring 
of 1863 he determined to seek a new home 
in the growing "West and carve out his own 
fortune, and came to Minnesota and settled 
at Hutchinson, McLeod county, in May of 
that year. Returning to Ohio the next fall, 
he, in company with S. A. Bunting, pur- 
chased a drove of fifteen horses, which were 
shipped by boat to Milwaukee, from which 
port they drove to this country, selling what 
they could on the way. Closing out the 
l);dance on his arrival at Hutchinson, he 
returned to the "Buckeye State"' for his 
famil}', and I'eturned the same fall and 
took up a homestead of 160 acres of land 
on section 20, Hutchinson township, Mc- 
Leod county, and commenced its improve- 
ment. There he remained, quietly engaged 
in agricultural pursuits, until 1877, and by 
diligence and industrvhad increased his farm 
to 300 acres. He sold this place and personal 
property, al:iout 1879, for SL700. In 1877 
he came to Dassel, this county, and com- 
menced running the Dassel House, and con- 
tinued to cater to the wants of the traveling 
public until 1882. During the summer of 
that year he engaged in his old trade of 
blacksmith, but on the 1st of January, 1883, 
went into the saloon business in the village, 
with J. S. Larson. The February folioAv- 
in<" their i>lace was destroved bv fire, with a 
loss of 82,500, only part of which was insured. 
In company with J. S. Larson and "William 
Gallagher, he then commenced the erection 
of a new hotel, the new Dassel House, the 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



325 



old one having been burned. On the com- 
pletion of this hotel, which is of brick and 
cost some $4,500, he again opened a saloon, 
and remained in that business until 1886, 
when he closed it out, and since that time 
has given his attention to the cultivation of 
a farm which he bought in 1881. This con- 
tains some forty acres, and adjoins the town 
site. He is also engaged in the letting of 
livery rigs. 

Among the leading proiiibitionists of the 
county, there is none who is better known 
than Mr. Remick, who, being thorougldy 
acquainted with the traffic in liquor, knows 
its evil, and is quite active in the movement 
looking to its suppression. 



/^ HRISTIAN BADEN. Among the 
V^^ thrifty, prosperous German citizens of 
Meeker county, who helped so materially 
toward its development and progress, until 
it now stands one of the brightest jewels in 
the crown of the noble State of Minnesota, 
is the worthy gentleman whose name heads 
this sketch. He was born in that part of 
the German empire known as Trier, June IS, 
1839, and there grew to manhood. He is the 
son of John and Marj' Baden, who had a 
family of live children. 

Our subject received the education so 
common to the youth of the fatherland, and 
at the age of sixteen commenced an appren- 
ticeship to the trade of blacksmith. He 
came to the United States in search of a 
home in this free land, in 1867, and located 
at Belle Plaine, Scott county, Minn., where he 
opened a blacksmith shop and followed his 
trade for one year. In 1868 he came to this 
country and bought out the interest of Albert 
Taylor, in the blacksmith shop in Forest 
City, and has been engaged at this trade ever 
since. He is also the owner of a fine farm of 
250 acres of land in the same township, part 



of which he leases to other parties and part 
cultivates himself. His success since he 
came here is entirely due to his energy, per- 
severance and thrift, as he is the sole archi- 
tect of his own fortunes. 

Mr. Baden was married before leaving his 
native land, April 11-, 1865, to Miss Mary 
Schmidt, who was the daughter of Michael 
and Susan Schmidt, and one of a family of 
eight children. On the -Ith of May, Mrs. 
Baden, who was a devout Catholic and 
an estimable woman, was called away 
by death, leaving ten children — William, 
Nicholas, Frank, John, Joseph, Susan, Cath- 
erine, Anna, Eosa and Mary. Susan married 
Eugene Schuler, March 2, 1886, and lives in 
Dakota. 



[^ARRISON FULLER, one of the old set- 
tlers of Collinwood township, has his 
home on section i. He is a native of Russell 
county, Va., and there made his residence 
until he was ten years of age, then emigrated 
to Tazwell county, settling in Avhat after- 
ward became a part of Buchanan county. 
Most of this time was spent on a farm with 
his parents. In 1862 he was conscripted into 
the Confederate arm}', and served some eigh- 
teen months. Having been made lieutenant, 
and detailed for recruiting service, he ab- 
sented himself without leave, and passing the 
lines, came to Minnesota. He arrived at 
Hutchinson, McLeod county. Ma}' 14, 1864, 
and spent the summer in digging gmseng, 
and the next winter in huntingand trapping. 
The following year he moved to the place 
where he now lives, but did little toward 
its improvement for some three years. The 
hard frost of August 19, 1866, destroying the 
little crops he and the other settlers had in, 
he had considerable difficulty in getting 
along, so, with others, he went to Wright 
county and chopped wood all the following 



326 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



winter. Many of his neighbors were sadly 
pinched witli hunger at that time. One day 
he walked to Kingston for provisions, but 
failed to get tliem, and on returning, found 
that the family had eaten up everything in 
the house, and he was forced to go supper- 
less to bed. The next day he was more 
fortunate, getting some flour at Greenleaf. 
Most of the settlers lived through the winter 
on what game they could kill, and in tlie 
sprmg on ramps or leeks, elm bark and other 
herbage. One family, to his knowledge, 
lived on game, ramps or leeks, and herbage 
that winter and sjiring. In 1873, after an 
absence of ' a year in Virginia, he com- 
menced to develop his farm pro]ierly, and liy 
diligence has succeeded in accumulating a 
nice property. He was married March 7, 
1861, to Miss Smyth, who was born in Taze- 
well county, Ya., April 26, 18-15, and is the 
daughter of Samuel M. and Mary (Justice) 
Smyth, natives of Kentucky. By this union 
there has been ten children, as follows — Ash- 
ville, born November 7, 1862, and married, 
March 27, 1884, to Mrs. Clarinda (Goble) 
"West ; Mary F., born September 29,- 1865, 
married Solomon Scalf in January, 1883; 
Pricy J., born May 19, 1868, married, March 
7, 1885. to Armstrong Sellard ; Elijah S., born 
March 15, 1871; James A., born March 20, 
1873 ; Roxelena, born May 21, 1875 ; Ida A., 
born May 26, 1877; Vashti, born May 2, 
1880 ; Lucretia, born November 5, 1882 ; and 
Maggie, born June 30, 1886. 

PATRICK McKARNEY, an ex-Union 
soldier, and a prominent and success- 
ful farmer and stock raiser, residing on sec- 
tion 8, Manannah township, was born in 
County Monaghan, Ireland, in 1832, and is 
a son of Patrick and Catherine (Bradj') Mc- 
Karney. His early life was spent in the 
land of his birth, receiving the schooling in 
industry and frugality which was given to 



the youth of his nationality in that day. 
In 1849 he came to the United States, land- 
ing in New Orleans, where he remained 
about one month and then went to St. Louis, 
Mo. Two months later he went to Rock 
Island, 111., and spent the winter, and after 
this was »mj)loyed on the Mississippi river, 
at whatever he could find to do, until the 
15th of August, 1862, when he enlisted in 
C'ompany B, Ninetieth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, and went into the service. His 
regiment was assigned to severe duty, and 
he remained in active service until the close 
of the war, receiving an honorable discharge 
on the 6th of June, 1865. After leaving the 
service he came to Minnesota, and settled in 
Dakota county, where he reuuiined until the 
following April, 1866, and then came to 
Meeker county, and settled on section 8, 
Manannah townshi]j, where he still lives. 
He has a farm of 150 acres of land, a good 
share of which is under cultivation, and 
devotes his attention to general farming and 
stock raising. 

]\Ir. McKarnev was married on the -ith of 
April, 1869, to Miss Mary O'Keeffe, and they 
have been blessed with the following chil- 
dren — Charlotte, born July 15, 1870; Cathe- 
rine, born May 26, 1872; James, born Janu- 
ary 8, 1874; Peter, born May 16, 1876; and 
Menus, born January 16, 1878; all of whom 
are still living. 

Mrs. IVlcKarney's parents were natives of 
Ireland. They came to America, and both 
died in Meeker county. Mr. McKarney is a 
re])ublican in political matters, and in religi- 
ous affairs both he and his wife are ex- 
emjilary memliers and active supporters of 
the Catholic Church. 



--^f^^"*- 



pi;^*RANK W. MINTON, the present 

lP>- genial proprietor of the Howard 

House, at Litchfield, is the son of William 

L. and Louisa C. (Hull) Minton, and was 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



327 



born in Brocton, Chautauqua county, N. Y., 
May 7, 1854. His mother was a descendant 
of one of the pioneer families of the 
Mohawk A'^alley. 

Frank remained in his native town until he 
was fifteen years of age, and then came to 
Eice county, Minn., where he lived with an 
uncle for a time. He removed from there to 
Chicago, whither his parents had gone, and 
entering the office of the Pullman Palace 
Car Co., remained there employed for seven 
years. Taking charge of a palace car run- 
ning between St. Louis and Minneapolis at 
the end of that time, he continued in that 
species of employment for two years and a 
half, but his health having become somewhat 
impaired he left the road. He entered the 
law office of Perkins & Whipple, of North- 
field, Minn., where he remained some eigh- 
teen months. He then went on the road as 
traveling salesman for the Champion Eeaper 
Co., and was with that corporation for the 
succeeding two years, after which he came 
to Litchfield, and assumed the charge of the 
Howard House, as landlord. May 1, 1884. 

Frank W. Minton and Miss Mattie Knight 
were united in the bonds of marriage. May 
20, 1884. The lady is a native of Canada, 
but at the time of her marriage a resident of 
Meeker county. 

: ■ • ' > ■ 

T^OBERT B. RALSTON. The subject 
_l^y, of this biography, one of Meeker 
county's most prominent and wealthy farm- 
ers and stock-raisers, is a resident of section 
14, Harvey township. He was born in the 
Province of Quebec, Canada East, on the 
2Sth day of August, 1826, and is a son of 
Andrew and Jane Kalston. His parents 
were natives of Scotland, but both died in 
Canada ; the father January 10, 1888, and the 
mother August 21, 1884. 

Eobert B. left his native province in April, 



1849, and went to Waterbury, A^t., where he 
secured employment on the Vermont Central 
railroad, and remained until the latter part 
of the following December, when he returned 
to Canada and remained until the spring of 

1850. At that time he went to St. Johns- 
bury, Vt., where he drove a team on railroad 
work, and in August, 1850, went to Cam- 
bridge, N. Y., and worked about there until 
the following summer of 1851. He next 
spent a few months at Bedford, Ind., and 
then went to Cincinnati, O., where he re- 
mained for four years, being emploj'ed at 
teaming most of the time; after that was at 
work on the Cincinnati & St. Louis railroad. 
In 1855 he went still further west, and spent 
one winter at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and then set- 
tled at Minneapolis, Minn. That place, which 
was then a mere village, remained his home 
until the fall of 1861, although, during this 
time, in 1859, he had come west to Meeker 
county and purchased the southwest quarter 
of section 11, in what is now Harvey town- 
ship. In that fall he came here and put in his 
time in caring for a few calves which he had 
purchased, and also did a good deal of trap- 
ping in various parts of this county. He was 
living here when the Indian outbreak oc- 
curred. He heard the news of the massacre 
at Acton on Sunday evening, while with his 
brother John. They at once went to mould- 
ing bullets and getting their guns in shape, 
after which they went to bed, and the follow- 
ing morning continued their harvesting. At 
noon they went to Forest City, and learned 
the serious condition of affairs. They then 
returned to look for a neighbor, Ilutchins, 
and his wife, and met them, and also Joachin 
Schultz, so all turned and went to Forest 
City. There they remained all through the 
Indian trouble. The following spring Mr. 
Ealston returned to his claim and put in his 
crops, and while at work could distinctly see 
the soldiers on patrol between his place and 
Forest City. This has since been his home. 



328 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



He has one of the most vahiable farms in the 
county, and carries on general farming and 
stock-raising extensively. 
• On tiie nth of June, ISOT, Mr. Ralston was 
n\arried to Miss ilelissa Pickle, and tlieir 
union has been blessed witii three children, as 
follows— Marcia, born August 22, 1868 ; Elsie 
v., born November 4, 1872; Arthur D., 
born April 13, 1882, all of whom are still 
living. Mr. and Mrs. Ralston attend, and 
Mrs. R. is a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. Mrs. Ralston's parents are still 
living in Canada ; her father is a native of 
Canada, and her mother a native of Ver- 
mont. 

In political matters Mr. Ralston affiliates 
with the democratic party. He has taken 
an active interest in everything calculated to 
develop the county's resources, and is rated 
as one of the most solid and substantial citi- 
zens of Meeker countv. 



-S^^^-4- 



ILLIAM MURPHY, a memberof the 
firm of Murphy Bros., general mer- 
chandise dealers at the village of Kingston, 
commenced business here in January, 1886, 
in company with T. Owen, with whom he 
remained in partnership until the 1st of Janu- 
ary, 1888, when Mr. Owen sold out to T. J. 
Murphy, the brother of our subject, and the 
present firm was formed. 

Mr. Murphy is a native of Rutland county, 
Vt., born November 3, 1860, and came to 
Minnesota with his parents in May, 1862. 
He is a son of Michael and Catherine (Clif- 
ford) Murph\', a history of whom is given 
elsewhere in this Album. He was reared and 
received the elements of his education in the 
district schools of Meeker county, and finished 
with a thorough course at the University, at 
St. John's, Minn., from which he was gradu- 
ated in 1882. He taught the Kingston 
village school the winter term of 1883-4, and 



later settled in the village and entered upon 
his present enterprise, which is the only store 
therein. He has held the office of justice of 
the peace for tAvo^'ears, and that of clerk of 
the townsiiip for quite a time. He was ap- 
pointed ))ostmasterin September, 1886, which 
position he holds at present. Mi'. IMui'iihy 
and Miss Ellen AVhalen were married Feb- 
ruary 20, 1887. The lady is a native of 
]\Ieeker county and daughter of Joim Wha- 
len, one of the oldest pioneers whose sketch 
is to be found in the pages of this volume. 

JAMES McCUE, blacksmith, at Greenleaf 
village, Meeker county, is a native of 
Ireland, born on the 10th of May, 1837. 
When he was but one year old, his parents, 
Timothy and Margaret McCue, emigrated to 
the United States and settled near Buffalo, 
N. Y. Mrs. McCue died soon afterward, and 
when James was ten years of age he was 
placed in a store at Hamilton, Ontario, where 
he remained until he reached his seventeenth 
year, at which time he was apprenticed to a 
blacksmith near Hamilton. Three years 
later, in 1857, he came to Minnesota, and 
located in Northfield, Rice county. In the 
fall of 1858 he went to California, where he 
remained about four years, engaged at mining 
and blacksmithing. Then, leaving there, he 
spent two or three years in Nevada and 
Montana, during the great mining excite- 
ment, and at the expiration of that time he 
returned to the States. After a trip to South- 
ern Kansas, he returned to Minnesota and 
settled in Renville county. In 1877 he left his 
family at Hutchinson and went to the Black 
Hills, D. T. After making several trips 
home, he finally, in 1879, returnetl to Ren- 
ville county, and continued to live there until 
1884, when he came to the village of Green- 
leaf, and established his present business. 
Being thoroughly skilled at his trade, he com- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



329 



mands a good patronage. In 1886 he made 
a trip to Iluntsville, Ala., Init returned with- 
out giving tlie matter of locating there much 
thought. 

Mr. McCue was married at the village of 
Greenleaf in 1873, to Miss Mary Kaler, a 
daughter of Christian and Almira Kaler, of 
Greenleaf township. Six children have been 
the fruit of this union, as follows — John E., 
born March 20, 1875; Stella A., born April 
9, 1877; Alford 0., born August 21, 1879; 
Effie May, born March 29, 1881; Margaret 
Myra, born March 13, 1883 ; Annie Ethel, 
born March 19, 1885. 



^^ICHAEL F. LENHARDT, a respected 
_M^J3^^ and enterprising farmer, who re- 
sides on section 1, Litchfield, was born in 
Saxon-Meiningen, Germany, on the SUth of 
October, 1827, and is a son of Michael and 
Margaret Lenhardt. He remained with his 
parents in his native land until 1853, when 
he came to America, landing in New Orleans 
shortly after the great yellow-fever scourge 
had abated. He located in St. Louis and re- 
mained there for two years, then went to 
Kansas, but, not being favorably impressed 
with the outlook there, he returned to St. 
Louis, and, the following 3'ear (185fi), he 
caTue to Meeker county, Minn., and took a 
claim on section 11, Litchfield township, 
where the village of Litchfield now stands. 
The following year he gave up that place 
and took a claim on section 1, in the same 
township, where he still lives. In 1859 
he was married to Eebecca Louhan, a 
native of Kentuck}', and two children were 
born to them, one of whom is deceased, 
and the other — Minne — is the wife of 
Frank Maetzold, of Litchfield. In 1803 Mrs. 
Lenhardt, the wife, and youngest child, died. 
In 1872 Mr. Lenhardt made a visit to his na- 
tive land, and while there Avas united in mar- 



riage with Margaret Peipus, a daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. John Peipus. Four children 
were the result of this union — Kicke (de- 
ceased), Anna, August, and Bertha. 

At the time of the Indian outbreak, in 
1862, Mr. Lenhardt was ojierating his farm 
in a quiet way. He did not become much 
alarmed at first, but soon felt the gravity of 
the situation, and, on Wednesday following 
the massacre at Acton, he started with his 
family for Clearwater. The road en route 
was literally alive with people and stock, and 
the woods were full of panic-sti'icken beings. 
After remaining in Clearwater a short time, 
he concluded the matter was more a scare 
than anything else, and went back to his 
farm. He was not long in discovering, 
however, that the ]3eo]ile were not terrorized 
without cause, and, therefore, took his fam- 
ily to Forest City for safet}^, arriving there 
just before the Indians made the attack on 
the fort. After spending about one month 
at Forest City, Mr. Lenhardt Avent back to his 
farm for the winter, and the following year 
put in his crops and has since made that his 
home. He devotes his entire attention to 
farming and stock raising, and has a most 
pleasantly situated and comfortable home. 
He is one of the most highly respected old 
settlers and substantial citizens of the county. 



-»► 



3ME ANS M. AKESSON, a resident of Swede 
_1?^ Grove township, is a son of Mons and 
Siselia Akesson. He was born in Sweden on 
the Sthof March, 1856, and remained in his 
native land until 1881, when he came to the 
LTnited States, and, aftei* spending two months 
in Wisconsin, jiushed on westward and located 
in Swede Grove township. Meeker county. 
Minn. On the 24th of November, 1882 
he was married to Miss Anna Olena Erickson 
the only daughter of Gerti'am and JMartha 
Erickson. The father of Anna died in Amer- 



330 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



ica, and the mother, Martha, came to the 
United States in 185", and in I860 was mar- 
ried to Christian Erickson, wiio died on the 
2(3th of March, 1882. Mrs. Erickson liad two 
children — Ilalvor Michelson, who was born 
February 11. 184t!, wiio Hves on section 32, 
Swede Grove townsiiip, and Anna Olena, now 
Mrs. Hans Akesson, wlio was born March 18, 
1864. Hans M. Akesson and his family live 
■with his wife's mother and cultivate the farm. 
Mrs. Erickson is an old settler in the town- 
ship and was here all through the " pioneer 
days." When the Indian trouble began she 
fled for her life with the others who were 
living here at that time. She fled in the 
night for Forest City for protection, and at 
onetime came very near losing her life, when 
Indian bullets were flvini; as thick as hail. 
As a full histor}' of those Indian times is 
given in another chapter of this work it is 
unnecessary to repeat it here. 

Mr. and Mrs. Akesson have been blessed 
with three children, whose names and 
ages are as follows — Martin Clarence, born 
May 6, 1883 ; Gotfried Casper, born Novem- 
ber 29, 1884 ; and Ilelmer Eugene, who was 
born on the 5th of November, 1886. 



M NOTHER pioneer of Meeker county 
j^^ is F. V. DeCostek, ex-jndge of pro- 
bate, and one of Litchfield's most prominent 
merchants. Mr. DeCc)ster was born in Buck- 
field, Me., on the I'.Hh of November, 1838. 
His parents were Varanes and Louisa 
(Thompson) DeCoster, both natives of the 
same State. F. V. remained at home until 
seventeen, working on a farm and attending 
school and at fifteen began teaching school. 
When seventeen he went to the city of Bos- 
ton and worked in a store for about a year, 
when he started west and brought up at 
Dunkirk, N. Y. A short time later he pushed 
on West to St. Anthonv, Minn., and remained 



there until the spring of 1858, when he located 
in the village of Kingston, Meeker county, 
and was there engaged in carpentering, teach- 
ing and in carrvintron the fur trade, remain- 
ing at this most of the time until the war 
broke out. He thus became personally ac- 
quainted with the famous Little Crow, the 
head of the massacre movement in 1862, and 
also with the chief Shakopee, buying fur 
and venison at various times of both these 
notables. In 1859-60 Mr. DeCoster left 
Kingston for atrip through the south, going 
to St. Louis, then to Cmcinnati, and then 
Natchez, Miss., where he had charge of the 
boats on the levee for a time. From there 
he went to New Orleans ; then Mobile ; and 
then to Montgomery, Ala., on the same boat 
that carried a lot of Southern planters who 
were on their way to attend a secession con- 
vention. After spending a short time at 
Savannah, Ga., Mr. DeCoster, returned to the 
North, and finally drifted to his old home in 
Buckfield, INIaine, where he remained some 
two weeks, and then returned to Kingston, 
Minn. Shortly after the war broke out, on 
the 25th of September, 1861, he enlisted in 
Company D, Fourth Minnesota Volunteer 
Infantr\", and went to Fort Aberci'ombie. In 
the spring of 1862, his company was assigned 
to the Army of theAVest in Tennessee. On the 
1st of Januai-y, 1863, he was made orderly 
sergeant of Company A, Firet Battalion Cav- 
alry, Mississippi Marine Brigade, and on the 
8th of July, in the same year, he was jJaced 
in command of Company D, as Captain and 
served until August 29, 1864. The business 
of the brigade was to keep the Mississippi 
river clear of Rebel forces who fired on 
transports, one of the most dangerous assign- 
ments in the service. The full bi'igade was 
carried on boats, and consisted of eight ma- 
rine fleet boats, with five rams, one regi- 
ment of infantry, battalion of cavalry and 
battery besides the rams. During this time 
Mr. DeCoster had two horses shot from un- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



331 



der him, and in one engagement when they 
were surprised by SCO of the enemy in the 
canebrake the company had seventy horses 
shot out of 170. The night previous to this 
action they learned that the boat " Bostona" 
had been burned by the Rebels at Austin, 
Miss. The brigade was then 100 miles off 
but they started in haste and arrived at that 
point at four o'clock the following morning. 
Mr. DeCoster was ordered to take ten men 
and go into the country in search of the 
Eebels. When four miles out they came in 
sight of five of the Rebels and captured them. 
When about to return to the command the 
major of the brigade came up and they were 
ordered to push on, which they did, and when 
they had proceeded but a short distance they 
were met by the 800 rebels, and all hands of 
the Union men came near losing their lives. 
It is worthy of mention that their flag-ship. 
The Autocrat, was the second one at Vicks- 
burg. Mr. DeCoster continued in service on 
the river, participating in numerous engage- 
ments, until the 27th of August, 1801:, when 
he was mustered out, being made super- 
numerary by the consolidation of the 
brigade. After the close of the war he 
remained at St. Louis for some four 
months and then returned to Minnesota and 
engaged in the general mercantile trade at 
Kingston. This he conducted until 1868 
when he sold out and became interested in a 
flouring mill and remained in that until the 
spring of 1871, being justice of the peace 
most of the time and otherwise taking a 
prominent and active interest in public af- 
fairs. In the spring of 1871 he removed to 
Litchfield and again embarked in the general 
merchandise trade. This he continued until 
about 1879, when he changed his line and 
handled musical instruments, sewing ma- 
chines and notions. In 1887 he Avent into 
the jewelry business and now handles a line 
which includes jewelry, musical instruments, 
etc. In 1872 he was elected judge of pro- 



bate and served one term, and since that time 
has been court commissioner most of the 
time. He has also taken an active interest 
in educational mattei's and has held various 
oifices on the school board. He has also been 
a member of the council and taken an active 
interest in all public matters at Litchfield. 
Mr. DeCoster is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, having joined the Golden Fleece 
Lodge, No. 89, when it was located at Forest 
City, and has always maintained his mem- 
bership. He is also a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, and was one of the 
charter members of the first post organized 
at Litclifield, and joined the present post soon 
after it was organized, and is identified with 
the " Survivors of the Mississippi River Ram 
Fleet and Marine Brigade." He is a mem- 
ber of the dramatic association, and was its 
manager for some two years. 

Mr. DeCoster was married in the spring of 
1871 to Miss Mary E. Campbell, of North 
Manchester, Conn. They have one child — 
Esther L., who was born on the 4th of Janu- 
ary, 1875. The family are members of the 
Presbyterian Church, and Mr. DeCoster has 
been supermtentlent of the Sunday-school of 
that church constantlv since 1871. 



JTOHN McINTEE, at present a resident of 
^ section 8, Manannah township, and a 
leading citizen of that neighborhood, was 
born in Ontario, Canada, on the 15th of 
August, 1852, and is a son of Nicholas and 
Margaret (Clark) Mclntee. His early life 
was spent in his native Dominion, but in 
1878 he came to Meeker county, Minn., and 
settled in Manannah township, where he still 
lives. He has a farm of 100 acres, with a 
good share of it under cultivation, and 
devotes his attention to general farming and 
stock liaising. He has been very successful 
and through his frugality and industry is 
now in verv comfortable circumstances. 



332 



MEEKER COUNTY, M 1 XA'ESOTA. 



Mr. Mclntee was married on the 1st of 
June. 1S80, to Mary A. IStewart, and their 
marriage has been blessed with three chil- 
dren, named — William J., ISIary, and Marga- 
ret, all of whom are living and at home. 
The family are members of the Catholic 
Ghnrch. In political matters Mr. Mclntee's 
principles are independent of party, and he 
votes for the man rather than for creed. 

Mr. Mclntee's pai-ents were born in Ire- 
land, and l)oth of them died in Canada. Tiie 
father of Mrs. Mclntee was a native of Scot- 
land, and died in Canada ; her mother was a 
native of Ireland, and now lives in Meeker 
county. 



JplENRY J. BOYNTON, an energetic 
JiP^dL and prosperous farmer and stock- 
raiser of Forest Cit\' townsliip, lives upon 
section 16, where he settled in 1865. He is 
engaged, to a large extent, in the raising 
of cattle, and for a man of liis years is 
extremely active and business like, for he 
was born May IS, 1820. Lincolnville, 
Penobscot county, Maine, Avas the home of 
his pai'ents, Jeremiah and Sarah (Higgms) 
Boynton, at the time of his birth. His father 
was born in Kennebec county, that State, 
and his mother at Lincolnville. The former 
died in 1876, the latter in 186S. 

The subject of this narrative was reared 
in his native State, and until he was eleven 
veal's of age, attended school at Bradley, 
Penobscot county. At the age of thirteen 
he commenced life, lumbering ujion the rivers 
of Maine, and followed that business until 
he had reached the age of forty-five years. 
"With a view to change his mode of life he 
then removed westward and settled in 
Meeker county, where he has since made his 
home. He has been connected with several 
of the town offices since his coming here, 
and merits and receives the warmest esteem 
and respect of ail wlio know liini. 



U])on tlie Otli of August, 1841, Mr. Boyn- 
ton and Miss Euth Eaton, jjledged their 
mutual vows at the marriage altar. Tlie 
lady is a native of Kova Scotia, and daugh- 
ter of Guy and Lydia (Rockwell) Eaton, 
natives of Nova Scotia, who had moved to 
the above province some time before the 
l)irtli of their daughter. By this union Mr. 
and Mrs. Boynton have a family of nine 
children, as follows: Mary Ann, wife of 
Andrew Gilchrist; Albert, in Minneapoh's ; 
Lewyn, who married Miss Lizzie Abbott, and 
is living in Eden Valley ; Louisa, Mrs. "Wra. 
Peters; Charles; Eldora, the wife of Rollin 
Thorp, of "Wright county ; Lizzie, wjio 
married Rev. L. L. Tower, and is living at 
Princeton, this State ; Alonzo, residing at 
home ; and Effie, Mrs. D. Lounsberry, of Man- 
annah township. 

Mr. Bovnton is a life-long democrat, cast- 
ing his first vote for the candidate of that 
party in 1841. He and his family are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
he has occujned the position of steward and 
class leader in that denomination for some 
time, and was quite prominently identified 
with the building up of the congregation at 
Forest Citv. 



•-J-J^j^-^* 



/^^\NE OF THE enterprising farmers of 
VS^/ Kingston toAvnship is H. Y. Rumsey, 
who lives on section 8, township 120, range 
29 west, where he also carries on stock rais- 
ing. He is a native of Cortland county, N. 
Y., Ijorn April 27, 1848, and is the son of 
L. H. and Mary A. (A'incent) Rumsey, who 
came to INIinnesota, in 1868, from "Wisconsin, 
where tliev had been living for vears, and 
settled in Kingston, where they still live. 
Our suljject was one of two children born to 
his parents, his sister being the wife of 
Kelson Turner, of whom a sketch is given 
elsewhere in thisAi.nrM. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



335 



The subject of this memoir spent bis 
school days in Fond da Lac county, Wis., and, 
until attaining his majority, assisted his 
father in the labor of carrying on the farm. 
He came with the family to this county, 
and, after coming of age, engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits upon his own account, tak- 
ing up a homestead, where he now lives, and 
to which he has added until he now owns 
ISO acres of fine land. He was married. 
New Year's day, 1873, to Miss Anna M. 
Kline, a native of Michigan, born in Flint, 
Genesee county, October IS, IS-iO, and 
daughter of James A. and Ann (Shimin) 
Kline. She was reared and educated in 
Winnebago county, 111., whither her parents 
had moved at an early day, and came to this 
county with the family. A biography of 
hor father appears in the pages of this 
volume. 

By their union Mr. and Mrs. Riunsey are 
the parents of one child — Elton K., born 
October 26, 1S78. Mr. Rumsey is a democrat 
in his political views, and usually supports 
the candidates and measures of that organ- 
ization. He is the jjresent treasurer of school 
district No. 7i. and has held that office since 
it was organized. 



fOHN HURLEY, one of the pioneers of 
Meeker county, and one of its i-epre- 
seutative men, is a resident of Ellsworth 
township, and is engaged in carrying on his 
farm on section 8. He came here in 1S5S, 
and took up his claim where he now lives, 
and there remained until the Indian troubles 
of 1862. During those fearful, tragic 
days he left here and went to Fremont and 
Clearwater, and from thence back to Kins's- 
ton, and from there, finall}', to what is now 
Darwin, where he remained some two years. 
He then returned to his farm, where he has 
ever since made his home. His original 



claim consisted of some 160 acres, but he now 
has nearly doulile that number of acres, and 
his farm is Ijrought, to a hio'li state of culti- 
vation. 

Mr. Hurley is a native of that "bright 
gem of the sea," Ireland, born in County 
Cork in the year 1S2.5, and is the son of 
Dennis and Mary (DriscoU) Hurley, both of 
Avhom were, also, natives of the Emei'ald 
Isle. Dennis Hurley died in his native land 
in 18i7, and his widow came to the United 
States in 1864 or 1805, and after a stay in 
New York and Pittsburg, came to Minne- 
apolis, and from thence to this county, where 
she died September 29. 1872. They were 
the parents of seven children, one of whom 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Hui'ley, of whom we write, was united 
in marriage in February, 1S51, with Miss El- 
len White, who was born in Ireland in May, 
1819, and who came to America with her 
parents in 1844, and settled in Pittsburg, 
Pa. She died in March, 1887, having been 
the mother of four children — Mary. Ellen, 
Ann and John. Mary died in Pennsyl- 
vania in 1857, at the age of two years ; John 
died October 15. 1887, of typhoid fever, the 
others are at home with their father. 

In his political views Mr. Hurley is entirely 
independent of paity lines, and non-partisan 
in the discharge of his elective franchise. 
He has held the office of director of his 
school district, and takes great interest in all 
educational work. As a progressive, enter- 
prising man he is the peer of any in the 
town. 

-— «"?^^ "<" ■ 

/^^ RICK W. NELSON, a young and euter- 
\^^ prising farmer of Dassel township, is 
also engaged, in company with N. J. Lind, 
in carrying on the saloon business in the 
village of that name. He is a native of 
Sweden, born among its beautiful scenes 



336 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIXNESOTA. 



October 14, 1856, anil is the son of Peter 
and Mary ]SIelson. lie came to America, 
when but twelve years of age, in company 
with his parents, who took up railroad land 
and settleil on section 35, Dassel township, 
in 1868, where the father of our subject made 
his homo until overtaken by death in 1S83. 
Erick remained with Jiis parents upon the 
family homestead until their death, and 
then came to the village, of Dassel, and was 
employed as a clerk in a store until May, 
1886, when he embarked in the saloon busi- 
ness, as above mentioned. He is carrying 
on a farm of sixty acres, a portion of the 
parental estate, and has made quite a success 
in life for a young man. Self-reliant, with- 
out obstrusiveness, and straight forward in 
his dealings, he is bound to succeed in life, 
and his business tact will insure his finan- 
cial elevation. 



"OHN PETERSON, better known as B. 
W. Peterson, one of the leading farmers 
of Collinwood township, and one of its most 
enterprising citizens, is a native of Sweden, 
born October IS, 1825, and is the son of 
Peter Johnson and his wife, Jennie (Matson) 
Johnson. He was reared and educated in 
his native land, and was an inmate of his 
father's house until he liad attained the age 
of thirty-eight. December 25, 1850, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary Olson, 
and for three years thereafter made his home 
with the old folks. Purchasing a timber 
farm, he then took up his residence upon it, 
and made it his home until 1867, clearing off 
the timber and cultivating its soil, when 'he 
sold out and emigrated to the new world in 
search of a home in the land of the free. 
Coming to Minnes(jta on landing, he at first 
settled in Carver county, but two years after 
removed to this county and purchased eighty 
acres of land on section ?>G, Collinwood town- 



shi]), where he now lives. All of the im- 
provements upon his place are the result of 
his own enei'gy and diligence, and are a 
credit to his industry. 

Mr. and Mrs. I'eterson are the parents of 
six children, of whom the following is the 
record — Jennie, born March 17, 1852, mar- 
ried Paul Anderson, and lives in Wright 
county; Olof, born January 24, 1860, mar- 
ried Miss Betsy Larsen, and resides in this 
township; Martha, born August 24, 1854, 
and is the wife of B. N. Peterson, of Cokato, 
this State; John, born September 6, 1862; 
Peter, who was born in 1857 and died in 
1859; and Peter, born in 1865 and died in 
1877. Although a poor man when he came 
here, Mr. Peterson has, by the exercise of 
excellent judgment and hard work, placed 
himself in acondition of comparative comfort. 



-«■- 



►^^ 



M ^NDREW LARSON, who resides on sec- 
_^^ tion 16, Litclilield township, is one of 
the most extensive farmers and stock-raisers 
in Meeker county. He was born in Sweden 
on the 31st of October, 1843, but left his 
native land with his parents, John and Celia 
Larson, and came to America in 1857. The 
family came direct to Meeker countj^ Minn., 
and settled on section 9, Litchfield township. 
Andrew remained with his parents about one 
year thereafter, and then voluntarily threw 
himself on his own resources, and began the 
struggle of life alone, working as a farm 
hand at small monthly wages. "When the 
Indian outbreak came he was yet a mere 
boy, but entered into the contest for the pro- 
tection of life and ]H'operty with the spirit of 
a veteran. On that fatal Suiulay, August 
17, 186;^, he was at a gathering of citizens of 
the neigiiborhood at the old Pi])ley ]iost- 
ottice, where they were discussing the matter 
of securing substitutes to go into the array, 
when the news came of the killing of five 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



337 



persons at Acton. The next day he went 
over to the scene with the party raised for 
the rescue and protection of the people in 
that neighborliood. Andrew was detailed, 
along with Andrew Ingerman to go to lakes 
Lillian and Elizabeth and extend the alarm 
to the settlers thereabouts. At first the set- 
tlers were loth to believe the story, and were 
with difficulty induced to flee for their lives. 
Andrew remained with the garrison at Forest 
City until the 15th of September, when he 
was sworn into the State service with the 
rest of the original company. After return- 
ing from the campaign with this company he 
enlisted in Company C, Mounted Hangers 
of the United States service, for one year, 
and did duty on the frontierduring the time, 
protecting settlers, and witnessed many evi- 
dences of Indian atrocity and brutality that 
were blood-curdling and heart-rending in the 
extreme, and also participated in several 'en- 
gagements with the red skins. In the fall 
of 1863 he was honorably discharged from 
this service, and in August, 1864, enlisted in 
Company 13, Eleventh Minnesota Infantry, 
and remained in the service until the close of 
the war. The reo'iment was first assigned to 
the Second Army Corps, but was subse- 
quently ordered to Nashville to assist General 
Thomas in resisting Hood's great Tennessee 
raid. The regiment was engaged in the bat- 
tle of Nashville, and afterward did patrol 
duty on the Nashville & Chattanooga rail- 
road. On the 26th of June, 1865, Mr. Larson 
was mustered out of service, and on return- 
ing home took an eighty-acre homestead and 
at once began improving it. 

In 1S68 Andrew Larson was married to 
Anna Larson, daughter of Peter Larson, 
whose farm adjoined the homestead belong- 
ing to Andrew's father. Anna Larson was 
born on the 6th of January, 1849. Their 
marriage has been blessed witli four children, 
all of whom are living at home. Their 
names are Alice E., Edward A., Charlotte 



M., and Harry J. Mr. Larson has taken a 
commendable interest in public matters, and 
has held various offices of a local character;, 
he has held the office of constable for about 
sixteen years, doing duty in some of the- 
most trying times in the history of th& 
county. His industry and careful manage- 
ment have enal)led him to acquire a good 
share of this world's goods, and he is now 
well oif . He owns a farm of over a thousand 
acres, most of which is under cultivation. 



v^> 



TOT 



I^ON. MICHAEL J. FLYNN. Among 
the honored citizens of the village of 
Litchfield there are very few that hold the 
place in the esteem and respect of the com- 
munity to the degree that Mr. Flynn does_ 
Closely connected with the business and 
social life of the place, an honored and rep- 
resentative pioneer citizen of Meeker county,, 
and the talented and worthy recipient of leg- 
islative laurels bestowed by this people, he- 
occupies a prominent place in its annals. 

Mr. Flynn is a native of Kane county, 
III., born August 15, 1840, and is the son of 
John and Ann (Lynch) Flynn, natives of 
Ireland. His parents came to America about- 
1836, and were married at Chicago, 111. 
From there they moved to Kane county, 
111., where they resided many years. In 
1856, he came to Meeker count}' with his- 
parents who settled in Forest City township. 
In 1859 the father died and Michael, although 
but nineteen years of age, took upon him- 
self the management of the farm and the 
support of the family, but being endowed 
with a strong will and excellent judgment, 
felt competent to grapple with the responsi- 
bilities of the situation. During the dread- 
ful days of the Indian massacre in 1862, h© 
found his hands full in endeavoring to pro- 
tect his charge, and the stock, from the red 



fiends who 



were 



wasting 



the border with. 



33S 



MEEKER COUNTY, M/XA'ESOTA. 



tomahawk, rifle and torch. His home duties 
prevented Iiis joining "Whitcomb's Irregu- 
lars," l)ut when the occasion offered he was 
not baclvward in vokniteering to assist in 
lielj)ing those more exposed than themselves, 
and incurred many peinls in the discharge of 
his duty. On one occasion, when out with a 
))arty who left the stockade at Forest City on 
one of their many errands of mercy, the little 
band was assaulted by a liost of tlie rutliless, 
retl-handed, murdering Sioux, and forced to 
flee for their lives. Tiiis was the famous expe- 
dition that was driven back l)y over 300 Indi- 
ans to the fortifications they had erected, 
with the loss of one horse and wagon that 
had stuck fast in the mud of a slough. In 
JN^ovember, 1803, Mr. Flynn's domestic 
arrangements permitting his absence, he 
enlisted in Company D, Second Minnesota 
Cavalry, and joined General Sully's column 
on the Missouri river, and i)articipated with 
the regiment in all the engagements n|)on 
the frontier, the regiment having been 
assigned for that duty on account of being- 
cavalry. He remained in the service until 
November or December, 1865, when, being- 
honorably discharged, he returned to the 
farm, where he made his home, engaged in 
agricultural ]>ursuits until 1870, when he 
came to Litchfield and took charge of the 
lumber yard belonging to Ciiauncey Butler. 
Three yeai-s he remained in that position, 
but in 1873 purchased the lumber yard of J. 
H. Morris, which he carried on ahme until 
1874, when his brother Daniel joined him 
and the present Arm was formed. They 
added tlie sale of agricultural implements to 
their business, a branch which they still pur- 
sue, having disposeil of their lumber inter- 
ests in 1S7S, but still carry evei-ything in the 
way of farm macliinery. In 1880 the broth- 
ers purchased the Butlei' elevator and do 
about the heaviest grain tratle in Litchfield, 
handling about 175,000 bushels of wheat per 
annum. In addition to his mercantile 



engagements, Mi\ Flynn has a farm of 480 
acres of flneland in Harvey townshi]), where 
he carries on, quite extensiveh", the raising of 
stock. 

Our subject has always held a ])rominent 
place in the official history of Meeker county, 
and taken a deep interest in the welfai'e of 
its peo})le. In 1867 he served upon the 
board of county commissioners, and, appre- 
ciating his worth in 1884, he was elected to 
the State Legislature and served in the 
House during the session of the Twenty- 
fourth Assembly. When the city of Litch- 
field came under its new charter in 1887, he 
was chosen its first mayor. He has large 
interests in the woolen mill, and is the presi- 
dent of the board of directors of the same ; 
is a member of the Frank Daggett Post, G. 
A. Pt. ; of Father Mathew's Total Absti- 
nence Society, and a leading and influential 
meniber of the Eoman Catholic Church. 

Mr. Flynn and ]\Iiss Frances Campbell 
were united in marriage February 8, 1869. 
The lady is a native of Kane county. 111., and 
sister of Hon. William M. Campbell, the 
United States Marshal of this district. By 
this union there have been born six children — 
John, who is a student at the college at 
Notre Dame, Ind. ; Louise, Elizabeth, 
Marv. Finances and Edward AVilliam. 



-«-i 



M lFRED J. JOHNSON, a successful 



pv^ farmer and stock-raiser, residing on 
section 16, Danielson township, is one nf the 
most prominent citizens of the township in 
which lie lives. He is a son of Isaac and 
Hannah Ogi'en, and was born in Sweden, on 
the '2'^'A of September, 18.">3. He came to the 
United States with his parents, in 1870, and 
the family made their way directly to 
Meeker county, Minn., where they settled 
upon a forty -acre homestead on section 20, in 
Danielson township. Alfred mad(>liis home 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



339 



with his parents, working, in the mean time, 
for different parties, until 18S0, when he pur- 
chased a portion of his present farm. Times 
were very hard during the early days of theh' 
settlement here, and money was scarce, an 
incident of whicli is the fact that at one time, 
when they wanted to mail a letter, it took all 
the money that three of thetn had to buy a 
three-cent stamp. Alfred did a good deal of 
trapping in those days, and in the fall, after 
frost set in, he walked to Forest City bare- 
footed, and carried 500 rat skins. With the 
proceeds he purchased a pair of shoes, some 
sugar, coffee, etc., and felt quite rich when 
he arrived home with seventy-five cents in his 
pocket. The loss of crops in 1877, from the 
depredations of the grasshoppers, made times 
still harder, as they onlv saved forty -five 
bushels, after planting 100. A laughable 
incident is told of the days when Alfred de- 
voted a good deal of his time to trapping. 
He had a partner, and one day they set a 
trap in the side of a hill for the purpose of 
catching whatever might come along. The 
next day the partner went to discover and 
bring in whatever might have found its way 
to the hole. He crawled into the aperture, 
and was just about to pull the trap out when 
a skunk, which had got fast, opened hostil- 
ities with most excellent aim at his face. 
The partner beat a hastj^ retreat, while the 
fun of the joke was all on Alfred's part. 

Alfred J. Johnson was married on the 7th 
of December, 1S81, to Esther Holmgren, a 
daughter of John and Mary Holmgren, who 
was born October 16, 1862. They have been 
blessed with the following children — Gustaf 
Edward, born September 24, 1883; Edith 
Evolina, born June 25, 1885; and "Walter 
William, born September 30, 1886. Mr. and 
Mrs. Johnson are members of the Methodist 
Church. Mr. Johnson now has a splendid 
farm of 260 acres, a good share of which is 
under cultivation, and he devotes his time to 
general farming and stock-raising. In addi- 



tion to his farming operations, he has for the 
last fourteen years run a horse-power 
thresher, and during the last two years has 
run a steam thresher. In political matters he 
is a republican, and he has taken an active in- 
terest in all mattei's affecting the welfare of 
his township. He has held various offices of 
a local nature, among which are the follow- 
ing : justice of the peace, six years ; super- 
visor, two years, and school clerk, one year. 
Mrs. Johnson's parents are living in Acton. 
Alfred's parents reside on section 20, Dan- 
ielson township. He has two half-brothers 
living in Meeker county — Andrew, who 
keeps a hotel at Litchfield, and John, a res- 
ident of Danielson. 



j^HARLES McALOON, a respected and 
i^^ well-to-do farmer, residing on section 
2, Harvey township, is a native of Ireland, 
and was born in 1835. His father died in 
his native land, and in 1853 he started for 
America with his mother, arriving at Boston 
on the 19th of May. He went direct to 
Lowell, Mass., where he was emj^loyed in 
the factories for fourteen years. At the end 
of that time he started for Meeker county, 
Minn., and upon his arrival, after stopping 
for one night at Forest City, he settled in 
Manannah township, where he lived for 
about six months. He then took a home- 
stead in what is now^ Forest Prairie town- 
ship, and lived there until May, 1871:, when 
he again settled in Manannah township. On 
the Irth of October, 1885. he settled on sec- 
tion 2, in Harvey township, where he still 
lives. He has a valuable farm, a large, com- 
fortable residence and other substantial farm 
improvements. Mr. McAloon's mother died 
while he was living at Lowell, Mass. 

On the 1st of October, 1871, our subject 
was married to Miss Mary McQuade, and 
their union has been blessed with nine chil- 



340 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



dren, as follows — John F., born July 2, 
1872, died July 2G, 1873, and buried in For- 
■est City cemetery ; Charles II., born Decem- 
ber 7, 1873; an infant, born July 6, 1871:, 
•died at birth ; Matthew E., born November 
6, 1876; Eosella, born November 11, 1878; 
Mary C, born October 30, 1880; Alice A., 
l)orn September 18, 1882; Hannah E., born 
May 15,1881; Catharine A., born October 
12, 1886, died P'ebruary 10, 1887, and buried 
in Manannah cemetery. Mrs. McAloon's 
parents were l)oth natives of Ireland. Her 
-mother died in her native land, and the 
father is now living in Swift count}', Minn. 
Mr. McAloon and wife are exemplary and 
active members of the Catholic Church. In 
political affairs Mr. McAloon does not follow 
the arbitrary dictation of any party, but acts 
in an independent manner. He owes all his 
prosperity to his own industry and frugality, 
as he started in the woi-ld without a dollar, 
but the same habits of thrift, economy and 
energy which characterize the natives of the 
Emerald Isle, have been successful in his 
■case, and he is now well off in this world's 
goods. He owns 400 acres of land, a good 
share of which is under cultivation, and he 
has the place well stocked. 



IM^ERSVEND S. THORP is one of the 
1^^ many thrifty and suljstantial farmers 
■of Acton township. He was born in Norway 
on the 18th of January, 1841, and is the son 
■of Severt and Brynnil Thorp. He came to 
the United States in 1860, and settled iirst 
in Goodhue county, Minn., where he remained 
for a short time at work for diffei'ent parties; 
then went to Minneapolis and drifted around 
from one business to another, and from place 
to place, until 1868, when he came to Meeker 
county and took a homestead of eighty acres 
on section 8, in Acton townsliip, where he 
has since lived. He has added to his home- 



stead, and now has a fann of 270 acres, well 
stocked and improved, and has fine farm 
buildings. IMr. Thorp was a poor man when 
he came to America, but the industry and 
economy, so characteristic of his country- 
men, have been successful in his case, and he 
is now well off. 

Mr. Thorp was married in July, 1869, at 
Acton, to Miss Beretli MaJvig. They have 
had the following children — Ole, born August 
23, 1870, died same day; Regine, born 
December 9, 1871, died March 11, 1877; 
Severt, born August 17, 1873, died in Octo- 
ber, 1877; Severt, born August .5, 1874; 
Pauline, born December 18, 1876, died same 
day; Bertha, born April 12, 1879, died in 
September, 1879 ; and Olena, born January 
31, 1884. In political matters, Mr. Thorp is 
a republican, and in religious affairs the 
family are members of the Norwegian Luth- 
eran Church. Mr. Thorp devotes his atten- 
tion to diversified farming and stock-raising. 
He has met with some reverses, but nothing 
of a very serious character, except during 
the grasshopper raids, when he lost about 
half his crops. 



-<^- 



l^RANK NELSON, one of the represent- 
1^^ ative young farmers of Cosmos town- 
ship, has his home upon section 16, where he 
now owns some 200 acres of fine land. This 
place, or, rather, 160 acres of it, he purchased 
in 1886, it being school land. To it he has 
since added forty acres more, and has some 
11.5 acres of it under cultivation. His dwell- 
ing, etc., which he erected in 1887, are of an 
excellent character, and the whole place man- 
ifests the thrift and care of its owner. 

Mr. Nelson, who is the son of Swan and 
Louisa Nelson, was born in Goodhue county 
March 2, 1864, and came to Meeker county 
with his parents on the 26th of September, 
1876. The family located in the town of 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



341 



Litchfield, where our subject remained until 
coming here. June 10, 1887, he and Miss 
Mary Petereon were united iu marriage, and 
took up the duties of life upon their farm. 

Our subject has always manifested consid- 
erable interest in all town and educational 
matters, and since coming here has been 
intrusted with the office of clerk of school 
district No. 81. 



-♦-: 



»-^- 



'OHN CARNEY, the able representative 
of the hardware trade at Eden Valley, 
came to that village iu the fall of 1886,' and 
the next spring established his present busi- 
ness. In addition to the usual lines handled, 
he gives a share of his attention to farm ma- 
chinery and }nimps. 

Mr. Carney is a native of Rutland county, 
Yt., born February 17, 185*3, and a son of 
Jeremiah and Catherine (McConnell) Carney, 
natives of Ireland and Vermont, respectively. 
When our subject was only about four years 
of age his parents removed to Eice county, 
Minn., where they settled on a farm. In the 
spring of 1878 they moved to Chippewa 
county and took a homestead and timber 
claim, where they still live. In Rice county 
John Carney grew up, receiving his educa- 
tion in the district schools of the vicinity. 
He made his home with his parents, and 
learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1886 he 
came to Eden Valley and opened a smithy, but 
the next spring commenced dealing in hard- 
ware, which business he still follows. 



•«"S€{^--4^' 



ILTON GORTON. 



Foremost among 



[1^_ the old pioneers of Meeker county, 
who yet remain here, is the gentleman who 
is the subject of this memoir. Coming here 
in 1857, the second year of the county's ex- 
istence, he has, more or less, been identified 



with its history, ever since. He is a resident 
of the town of Forest City, on his farm on 
section 29 and 30, which he preempted on 
his arrival in tiiis localit3^ 

Mr. Gorton was born in the county of 
Steuben, N". Y., May 22, 1822, and is the son 
of Silas and Betsey (Spring) Gorton, both 
of whom were natives of the " Empire State." 
He was one of a family of nine children 
born to his parents, the others being — 
Horatio, Betsey, Jane, Stephen D., Elmira, 
Hiram, William and Milo. Milo, a member 
of a New York Regiment, was killed at the 
battle of Resaca, Ga. 

Our subject is the grandson of Peleg 
Gorton, one of the six proprietors of Painted 
Post, N. Y., and was reared in that vicinity, 
and there received the elements of a common 
school education. On the 3d of July, 
1859, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Harriett C. Marks, a native of New York 
State, also. 

At the time of the Indian outbreak, Mr. 
Gorton's wife and he took refuge in Forest 
Cit}', and upon the memorable morning of 
the 23d of August, when nearly everybody 
had fled from the county, Milton Gorton 
was one of the little band of heroes who 
remained to make a stand at Forest City, in 
defense of their homes, as detailed in the 
history of the massacre in this volume. Mr. 
Gorton lost heavily by these troubles, the 
Sioux burning his house and its contents, and 
destroying everytfiing else that they could 
about the 2)lace. lie has, however, fully 
recovered from the setback, and is one of 
the large land owners and prosperous farmers 
of the county, owning over a full section of 
some of the best land in the town of Forest 
City. 

Mr. Gorton, having no children of his 
own, adopted Ida A. Fergerson, when she 
was but five years of age. She was born 
April 17, 1873, and is the daughter of George 
Fergerson. 



342 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Our subject is a stanch republican in his 

political views, but has had but little desire 

for political preferment, although he has, at 

. times, been induced to accept several town 

offices. 






-■^ 



JOHN BIRCH, of the firm of Birch & 
Nelson, Litchfield, is a native of Sweden, 
born August 21, 1840, and is the son of An- 
drew and Martha (Johnson) Birch. He re- 
mained in his native land until ISOS, when, 
with a natural wish to better his financial 
condition, he bade adieu to the old world and 
souo-ht in America a new home. He had 
served a long apprenticeship in the land of 
his birth, to the trade of tailor, and on land- 
ing on these shores, worked at journey work 
in that trade in the city of St. Paul, whither 
he had come, until 1880, when he removed 
to Litchfield, and in company with Andrew 
Nelson, founded the business now represented 
by Mr. Birch and Easmus Nelson, trading 
under the firm name of Birch & Nelson, in 
the clothing and gents' furnishing goods 
line. Mr. Birch is a mendjer of the I. O. 
O. F., having joined that order while in St. 
Paul. 

Mr. Birch was married January 4, 1873, to 
Miss Sarah Johnson, a daughter of Olaf 
Johnson, of this county, and a native of 
Sweden. They have three children— Aman- 
da Elizabeth, Ella Hannah and Horace John. 



♦S«^-»- 



JETER SANGREEN, a hard-working and 
_^p industrious farmer, living on section 9, 
Collinwood township, was born in Sweden in 
1856, and is the son of Andrew Peter and 
Eve Anderson. "When he was about sixteen 
years of age he left his native shores and 
emigrated to America, and located in St. 
Louis county, Minn. For three years there 



he was employed in railroad work, and then 
came to Collinwood, where his parents had 
come, that year, 1876, and took uj) his home 
beneath their roof. One year later he rented 
a farm, upon which he carried on the avoca- 
tion of a farmer, and then purchased forty 
acres of land where he now lives. The neat 
impi'ovements in the way of liouse, granary, 
stable, etc., have all been erected by himself, 
and he is in a fair way to achieve success in 
life through energy, industry and frugality. 
He has held the office of town clerk five 
years; chairman of the board of supervisors 
one year; side supervisor two years, and the 
responsible position of county commissioner 
for two years, and always with credit to him- 
self and honor to the judgment of those who 
placed him in those capacities. 

Mr. Sangreen was united in marriage 
March 6, ISSO, with Miss Caroline Dohlman, 
a native of Sweden, born August 5, 1858, 
and daughter of Olaf and Caroline Dohlman. 



-♦"S^i^^-^^- 



ITOHN S. LARSON, a prominent citizen 



f) of Dassel village, is engaged in the 
retail liquor business. Born in Yaermlan, 
Sweden, March 24, 1857, he is the son of 
John and Mar\' Larson, natives of Swetlen. 
He came to Meeker county with his parents 
in 1870, when he was about twelve years of 
age. The family settled upon a farm in 
section 30, Dassel township, where his par- 
ents still live. 

John remained at home, assisting his father 
in the labors incident to farm life, until 1874, 
when he entered the employ of the St. Paul, 
Minneapolis & Manitoba Eailroad, at St. 
Paul, with whom he remained for a couple 
of years. In 1879 he returned to this county 
and settled at the village of Dassel, where he 
entered the service of Andrew Linquist, as 
bartender, and fulfilled the duties of that 
position until 1882. In the latter year he 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



345 



entered into a proprietorsbip with John 
Thomas, in the same hne, but sliortly after 
J. H. Eemick, having bought out Mr. Thomas, 
the firm of Eeraick & Larson was formed. 
In February, 1883, their place of business 
was desti'oyed b}' fire, and our subject lost 
his entire stock of clothes, except those he 
had on and considerable of his stock in trade. 
At once, in companj^ with J. II. Remick and 
Thomas Gallagher, he commenced the erec- 
tion of the Dassel house, but before its com- 
pletion IVIr. Larson sold out his interest in 
the hotel, only reserving the saloon part, 
where he now carries on the business. 

Mr. Larson was married, in 1883, to Miss 
Emma J. Bunting, who was called away 
by death May 31, 1885, leaving without a 
mother's love and care, their little girl, Ella 
May. 



/f^LA NELSON, a thrifty and successful 
^^i£} farmer, Avho resides on section 36, 
Litchfield township, is a native of Sweden, 
born October t), 1848. His father, Nels 
Swanson, was born in Sweden in 1822, and 
died in Meeker county in 1875, having settled 
hei-e in 1872. Ola's mother, Hannah Swan- 
son, was born in 1819, came to America in 
1871, and died in 1884. 

Ola Nelson came to the United States in 
1866, and in 1869 he located on section 36, 
Litchfield township. Meeker count}', Minn., 
Avliere he has since lived. During that time 
he has continually followed farming, and has 
been reasonably successful, notwithstanding 
the reverses which he has met, including the 
destruction of his crop two seasons by grass- 
hoppers and hail, and the burning of his 
residence, with all its contents, March 2, 
1873. 

In 1878 Mr. Nelson was married to Ellen 
Hawkinson, a daughter of Hogan Peterson. 
Their marriage has been blessed with four 



children — Amanda, Mary, Alice and Anna. 
Mr. Nelson has a valuable farm and devotes 
his attention to stock raising and general 
farming. 



^Tv?" ILLIAM 



*paiiL industrious 



ROACH, an enterprising, 
and energetic farmer 
of Forest Prairie township, living upon sec- 
tion 4, is the son of Michael J. and Sarah J. 
(Wynn) Eoach, a sketch of whom is given 
elsewhere in the pages of this volume. "Will- 
iam was born in Cass county, Indiana, July 
1, 1848, and received his earlier schooling in 
that locality. In 1866 he came to this county 
with his parents and passed his time between 
that and his majority in attending school and 
in assisting his father to cany on the farm. 
About the year 1 871 he commenced the bat- 
tle of life for himself, engaging in agricult- 
ural pursuits upon the place wiiere he now 
resides, and where he has met with merited 
success. 

Mr. Eoach was united in marriage Febru- 
ary 26, 1871, with Miss Matilda Kisinger. 
The lady is a native of Fulton county, Ind., 
and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kising- 
er. Her mother is among those who have 
gone to their rest in the land of the blest ; 
but her father is still living. Bv this marriae-e 
Mr. and Mrs. Eoach have a family of eight 
children — Matilda, Emma, Henry, Eosa, 
Nettie, William, Monroe, all living at home, 
and George and John deceased. 

Mr. Eoach is a democrat politically, and has 
served in some of the local offices in this town- 
ship. He is a veteran of the late war, enlist- 
ing in 1862 in the Twenty-first Indiana 
Heavy Artillery, but was honorably dis- 
charged from the service, after a short term, 
and returned to his home. 

In regard to his pioneer life here, Mr. 
Eoach writes — "When I first came to this 
county, in 1867, I got my living by hunting 



346 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



and trapping. In 1S71 I threw down the 
gnn iuul trap and went to farming. About 
the first money I earned I carried a Ijushel of 
potatoes from Forest City for AVilliani M. 
Abbott." 



JOHN OLSON, a steady, thrifty farmer 
of Kingston township, came to Meeker 
county in IsfiS, and took a liomestead of 
eighty acres of knd on section 34, where he 
now liv^es. He was born in Sweden, Novem- 
ber 8, 1830. In 1SG5 he determined to seek 
in the new world his fortune, and emigrated 
thither, landing at Xew York, but came at 
once West and was engaged at various kinds 
of labor in St. Paul, Stillwater and in the 
pinery, until he came to this county. He is 
the son of Ole and Anna Flink, the former of 
whom was always a farmer. Our subject 
was one of a family of ten children, but he is 
the only survivor. 

Mr. Olson was married to Miss Sabrina 
Olson, by Rev. John L. Fasig, and they are 
the parents of si.x children — Selina, born 
November 5, 1870; Obenius, born August 
31, 1872 ; Alva Josia, born August 2-4, 1874 ; 
Johan Adolph, born May 23, 1876 ; Hilma, 
born March 26, 1878, and Caleb Sethur, born 
September 30, 1881. This was Mr. Olson's 
second marriage, he having wedded Miss 
Josephine Peterson, at Stockholm, Sweden, 
but she died after about eighteen months' 
time. Mr. Olson and his family are zealous 
members of the Missionary Church at Kings- 
ton. In politics he is a republican. 



• ■* > •S^^"^- 



^^^ICHAEL LOVETT, deceased, was at 
J^ili^ one time a ])rominent citizen of 
^lanannah township. He was a native of 
County Cavan, Ireland, and came to the 
United States about the year 1848, and 



located in tiie city of Boston, Mass. Two 
years later he went to the State of Xew 
York, wliere he also lived for about two 
years, after which he removed to Canada. 
That Dominion was his home for about 
eighteen j'ears, and then, in 1870, he came 
with his family to Meeker county, Minn., 
and located on a farm in what is now ^Manan- 
nah township, where he remained until the 
time of his death, on tlie 29th of April, 1879. 
He was married to Miss Bridget Fanley, who 
still survives him. They had a family of 
nine children, five girls and four boys, whose 
names were as follows — Bridget, Alice, Peter, 
Catherine, Mar}', Ann, John, Michael and 
James. All of the cliildren are still living, 
except Mary and Alice. The widow still 
carries on the place, which consists of eight}' 
acres of land. She is a member of the Cath- 
olic Church, and holds the res])ect of all who 
know her. 

James Lovett, a son of Michael, who owns 
forty acres of land in the township of Manan- 
nah, was born in Canada on the 13th of 
November, 1865, and still resides with his 
mother. He is also a member of the Catho- 
lic Church, and in political matters he acts 
independently of party creed, and votes for 
the man rather than party. 



M LB E R T VITZTHUM VON ECK- 
.^^L STAEDT, of Litchfield, was born in 
Prussia, Germany, in 1845, and is the son of 
Frederic and Louisa (Manns) von Eckstaedt. 
His father was a captain in the army of Prus- 
sia, and served in the wars of Napoleon. 
Later in his life he was the occupant of an 
important position in tlie custom house of 
that State, and died in his native land in 
1854. He was of the aristocratic class, as 
the "von" before his name jilainly shows. 

Albert, at the age of thirteen, was sent to 
the military school at Berlin, where he re- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



347 



mtiined some three years, and at the age of 
sixteen received a commission as lieutenant 
in the Second Pomeranian Lancers, and 
served in the army for four years. In 1865 
he left the fatherland and came to Amer- 
ica, where he traveletl for a couple of years, 
most of the time on the Pacific slope. In 
1878 he came to Litchfield, and for two years 
was in the employ of John Eodange, and at 
the expiration of that time entered into part- 
nership with the same gentleman in the sa- 
loon business. In 1SS2 the subject of this 
memoir opened his present place of business 
on Sibley avenue. 

Albert Y. von Eckstaedt has alwa\'s taken 
great interest in military affairs, especially in 
the militia, and was largelj^ instrumental in 
the organization of Company II, First Regi- 
nient M. N". G., of this place, and also helped 
organize the bucket brigade of the Are de- 
partment. He is a valued citizen and much 
res[)ected member of the community. 

Our subject was married November 11, 
1881, to Miss Lizzie Mittwer, a native of 
Prussia, Germany, and daughter of Martin 
and Busche (Eadise) Mittwer. By this union 
there have been born two children — Adelia 
and Theresa. 



lp)ROMlNENT among the farmers of 
1^ Swede Grove township, is N. L. Nel- 
son, who has a good farm and comfortable 
home on section 33. He was boi-n in Swe- 
den on the 2oth of February, 1815, his 
parents being Lewis and Johanna Nelson. 
N. L. Nelson came to the United States with 
his father in 1871. He came direct to Swede 
Grove township, and worked for several 
farmers in that part of the county for seven 
years, when he bought a farm on section 22 
and lived tliere for nine years. He then sold 
that and bought his present place on section 
33. 



Mr. Nelson was married on the 21th of 
March, 1868, to Emily Anderson, and they 
have had the following children — Ole, who 
was born January 28, 1869; Albert, born 
May 21, 1874; and Lewis, born May 16, 
1877. AVhen Mr. Nelson came to this coun- 
try he was a poor man, but by industry and 
economy he has acquired a competency and 
a comfortable home. He now has 155 acres 
of land and has a good lot of stock gathered 
about him. He is a republican in political 
matters and ranks as one of the leading 
farmers of his township. 



/^^j»ADlSON DELONG, a prominent 
J -tIl mem ber of the farming community 
of CoUinwood township, has his home upon 
section 1, where he owns and cultivates nearly 
his entire farm of 163 acres. His house, 
which is a neat and tast}^ cottage, is sur- 
rounded with all the necessary conveniences 
and comforts for carrying on his business, 
and is a home in the true sense of the word. 
Mr. Belong was born in Lawrence county, 
Ohio, June 1, 1836, and is the son of Francis 
and Nancy (GiUilan) Belong, natives of Penn- 
sylvania and Ohio, respectively. He remained 
beneath the parental roof until his marriage, 
March 5, 1857, on which date he led to the 
nuptial altar Miss Elizabeth Lunsford, a na- 
tive of Augusta county, Va., and daughter 
of Reuben and Nancy Lunsford. He then 
commenced work at a smelting furnace 
where he was engaged until 1866, when he 
came to Carver county, Minn., but one year 
later removed to Scott county. While vari- 
ously engaged there he came to this county 
and took up a claim on section 34, Dassel, on 
the site of the present village of that name, 
where he resided, keeping " bach " that win- 
ter. He returned to Scott county where his 
family were, and in coming back to his claim 
found that it had jumped by Parker Simons, 



34« 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



a railroad man. A law-suit ensued, which 
was carried up to the Secretary of the Inte- 
rior, and linally Mr. Delong's title to the 
claim was canceled. The claimant then com- 
proniised with our subject, wiio removed to 
Collinwood townshij), and settled where he 
now lives. He was a poor man when he 
came to this country, and his law-suit and 
loss of his claim still furtlier set him back, 
but by liis energy and industry he has been 
the arciiitect of iiis present excellent finan- 
cial condition. Mr. Belong has held the of- 
fice of town supervisor for some eight years, 
and that of assessor for four, and holds the 
latter position now. 

Mr. and Mrs. Belong have a family of 
eight children, as follows— Martha, born 
March 10, 1858, married Alexander S. Gor- 
don, March 21, 1877 ; Nancy C, born Au- 
gust 7, 1859, married William Compton, July 
31, 1887; Rachel, born July 17, 1861, mar- 
ried Lemuel L. Sison, Becember 25, 1878 ; 
Edmund, born May 13, 1863 ; Lewis, born 
March 19, 1866 ; Napoleon, born August 16, 
1869; Francis, born April 10, 1873; and 
William, whose birth took place April 23, 
1876. 



^^^ 



IRGIL H. HARRIS, the popular drug- 
gist of Litchfield, is the descendant of 
one of the colonial families of Virginia, and 
was born in Hanover, Licking county, Ohio, 
May 14, 1840. 

John Harris, the great-grandfather of our 
subject, was a native of Hanover county, Va., 
where he remained until his death. His sons 
drifted to North Carolina, where they became 
prominent men, and were prime movers in 
the movement for Independence passed at 
Charlotte, Mecklenburgh county, N. C, May 
20, 1775, antedating the Beclaration of Inde- 
pendence of the Continental Congress over 
one year, and furnishing many of the ideas 



for that celeljrated document. Subsequently 
the^' removed to South Carolina, and settled 
on the San tee river, from which place Ephraim 
Harris, the grandfather of the suliject of this 
sketch, in company with Baniel Boone, who 
was a warm friend of his, made a trip into 
the wilderness that is now the State of Ohio. 
After prospecting over that territory, Mr. 
Harris, aiwut 1820, took up a homestead on 
the Licking i-iver, in what is now Licking 
county, and there made a settlement. The 
old homestead now forms a part of the site 
of the busy city of Newark. Ephraim Harris 
remained upon this place for about twenty 
years, wlien he removed to the town of Han- 
over, in the same county, near his son 
Baniel's farm, and there made his home until 
he was killed in breaking a pair of colts, in 
his ninety-eighth year. 

Baniel Harris, the father of the subject of 
this memoir, who was a tanner as well as a 
farmer, remained upon the farm which he 
had purchased in Licking countv until about 
1848, when he sold out and removed to Bay- 
ton, Ohio, where he followed his trade for 
about a year, when he died, leaving a wife 
and five children to mourn their loss. The 
children bore tlie names of Virgil II., Emma 
E., Cynthia A., Louis E., and Bavid M. 

The mother of Virgil was formerly Miss 
Martha Bowling. Her father was a native 
of Ireland, who had left the land of his birth 
on account of some trouble with a landlord, 
which culminated in Mr. Bowling pulling 
him off of his horse and beating him. This, 
in that oppressed land, was a terrilile offense, 
so he emigrated to this country, and settled 
in Juniata county, Penn., where the future 
Mrs. Harris was born. When her brothers 
moved to Ohio, she went with them, walking 
the whole distance, some 700 miles, driving 
their cattle all the way. Later she married 
Mr. Harris, and after his death returned to 
Licking county, from whence, two years 
later, she removed to Marion county, in the 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



349 



same State, where her ])eople had settled. 
Subsequently she married Jolm Baker, and 
made her home in Ohio until 1883, when the}' 
removed to Indiana, where she died in 18S7. 

Virgil remained with his mother after his 
father's death until about 1852, when, being 
but twelve j'ears of age, he went to Macon 
count}'. 111., where for four years he was 
engaged in herding some 4,000 head of sheep. 
In the fall of 1859 he returned to Ohio, and 
cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln in 
1860. In May, 1862, he enlisted in Company 
B, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Infan- 
try, and sefved until the close of the war. 
He participated, with his gallant regiment, in 
some twenty-eight engagements, the princi- 
pal of which were Perryville, Green Kiver 
Bridge, Bowling Green, Crab Orchard, Lou- 
donville, Kno.wille, Buzzard's Koost, Resaca, 
New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, 
Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Allatoona, 
Spring Hill, Franklin, Nashville, Fort Fisher 
and others. He received his discharge as 
orderly sergeant, June 28, 1865, and on 
returning home attended college for a year 
and a half at Indianapolis, Ind., and Ashland, 
Ohio. He was married, December 25, 1S6S, 
to Miss Lizzie Hill, a native of Marion county, 
Ohio, and daughter of Jolm and Catherine 
Hill, who were among the pioneer families 
of the Buckeye State. For two years after 
that Mr. Harris followed farming in Marion 
county, Ohio, whither he had moved. In 
December, 1870, in company with George 
Lyon, he came to this part of the State, and, 
determining to settle at Litchfield, brought 
his family here in January, 1871, when the 
place was but in embryo. In company with 
S. Y. Gordon he started a meat market and 
remained in that two years, and then opened 
a drug store, which business he has followed 
ever since. 

In politics Mr. Harris is a republican and 
has filled many offices in village and county. 
He was one of tlie first justices of the peace 



of the village of Litchfield, and has, since 
then, been alderman, recorder, mayor and 
county commissioner, and is now serving as 
chairman of that board, having been a mem- 
ber of it for five years. He is a memljer of 
Frank Daggett Post, G. A. E., holding 
the third rank in the department of Minne- 
sota, and belongs to the A. O. U. W. 



«"S^^"4- 



I^EWIS OSTERLUND, of the mercantile 
" '^ firm of Osterhmd & Leighton, promi- 



nent dealers in general mei'chandise, in Das- 
sel village, came to Meeker county in the 
year 1881. In March, 1882, he entered the 
postoffice in this place as clerk, under Louis 
Rudberg, postmaster, with whom he re- 
mained until January 1, 1883, when he was 
himself appointed postmaster. He occupied 
this official position until May 1, 1887, after 
which the present firm was formed and the 
store opened under their auspices. He is a 
native of Sweden, born October 17, 1853, 
and remained a resident of his native land 
until he had attained the age of twenty- 
seven years, but on the 23d of May, 1881, 
embarked for the promised land, the home of 
the poor man beneath the folds of our starry 
banner, and upon setting foot upon the free 
soil of America, came to Meeker county as 
mentioned above. After a short time he 
went to Minneapolis, but five months later 
returned to Dassel where he now lives. 



RIC P. EKLLIND, one of the black- 
smiths of the village of Grove City, is 
a native of Sweden, born July 3, 1836, and 
is the son of Peter and Lisa Kranz. Having 
acquired the blacksmith's trade in his youth 
and early manhood, he worked at that call- 
ing in his native land until he was about 
twenty-five years of age, when he went to 
Russia and purchased a smithy, and for 



350 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



three years labored among the Muscovites at 
his calling. AVhile there ilr. Eklund was 
united in marriage with Miss Julia Paulina 
Elizabeth Kruger, the ceremony taking- 
place October 13, 1863. Tiie lady, a daugh- 
ter of Henry and Louisa Kruger, was born 
in Ilussia, July 25, 1843. The same year 
Mr. Eklund returned to Sweden, where he 
worketl at his trade for two years more and 
then emigrated to the United States in 
search of a fortune more consonant with his 
ideas than was to be found in the Old World. 
He remained in New York for some ten 
months, where he found amjile enniloymentat 
the forge, iiutat the end of that time came west 
and located at St. Paul, where he remained 
employed as usual until 1808, in which year 
he came to Meeker county' and took a home- 
stead in section 14, Swede Grove township, 
on which he made his home for five years. 
During this time he erected a blacksmith 
shop in the village of Grove City, where he 
now carries on his trade. Three years later 
he built his fine residence in the same block 
as his smithy, where he now lives. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eklund have been the par- 
ents of thirteen children, as follows — Leon- 
tina Louisa, born Koveraber 7, 1864, died 
January 8, 1877 ; Engelbert, born September 
27, 1866; Amanda Julia, born April 8,1868; 
Alga Matilda, born December 4, 1869; Gott- 
lieb Waldimar, born September 22, 1871 ; 
Otilia Valeria, born September 3, 1873 ; Ida 
Almira, born August 15, 1875, died Decem- 
ber 29, 1880 ; Elida Paulina, born September 
25, 1876, died January 16, 1881 ; Leonhard 
Eric and Leontina Elizabeth, twins, born 
October 27, 1879; the first of whom died 
February 22, 1881 ; Arthur Eric, born June 
20, 1881 ; Hilger Conrad Anton, born June 
11, 1883; and Henry Oscar Edwin, whose 
birth took place October 26, 1885. Amanda 
J. is married, and with her husliand, ]Vels S. 
Strand, is engaged in running a boarding- 
house and dining-room at Helena, Mont. 



^M LBERT H. DELONG. The subject of 
Jp>-^ tliis sketch is a resident of section 
25, Greenleaf township, and is one of the 
most prominent and respected old settlers in 
]\Ieeker county. He is a native of St. Law- 
rence county, N. Y., born April 12, 1842, 
and his parents, Hiram and Maria Delong, 
were natives of Grand Isle, Lake Champlain. 
Tlie mother died in the village of Greenleaf 
in 1>70, while the father, who was born in 
1799, is still living, making his home with 
Albert H. The family emigrated from New 
York to A\'isconsin when Albert was seven 
years of age. His time was divided between 
school and work on his father's farm, and at 
the age of seventeen he came to Meeker 
county, Minn. After entering and paying 
for a claim in what is now Ellswortli town- 
ship, he leased the flouring mill on the outlet 
of Cedar Lake, known as Cedar ]\[ill, and 
there he was engaged Avhen the Indian out- 
break began. A few days previous to the 
massacre at Acton, IMr. Delong, while at the 
agency, met an old Indian known as Charley 
Minnetonka, whose friendship he had gained 
by various acts of kindness. He had always 
worn citizen's clothes but was then rol)ed in 
a hritiiit I'ed blanket. He acted strangely 
and took occasion to infonn Mr. Delong, suh 
rom., that there wasgoiiig to be "a big fight." 
Little or no attention was paid to the old 
fellow's warning, for it was thought he had 
reference to some fight in project between 
the Indians. "When the news of the massacre 
reached the mills, on the morning of August 
18, 1862, Mr. Delong and Vincent Coombs 
started out to learn whether or not there 
was an J' truth in the reports. Learning 
nothing definite, they went on to Acton and 
found the people assembled there preparing 
to bury the bodies of the five who were slain. 
When the Indians came upon the scene, 
Albert joined the party which chased them 
to tlie Kandiyohi woods. Having a keen 
sense of the duties of a scout, he was made 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



351 



useful ill that capacity many times during 
the terrible weeks and months that followed. 
At Hutchinson he was enrolled with a com- 
pany of volunteers as a scout, and for six 
weeks never missed a day in the saddle, riding 
sometimes as much as forty miles a day. 
When the detail of the Ninth Minnesota 
Regiment was sent to Forest City he joined, 
them as a scout, and -was riding in advance, 
and was first to discover the redskins in 
ambush at the time of the battle near Acton. 
The Indians were crawling in a wheat field 
and the glimmer of a bright gun was dis 
covered by Mr. Delong, who rode back and 
informed the captain. AVhen the Indians 
saw they were discovered they rose and fired 
a volley at the whites, and then commenced 
surrounding them. In this battle three men 
were killed and twenty-one wounded out 
of a total of forty-nine in the command. 
Although left behind by the command, and 
once almost completely surrountled Iw Indi- 
ans, he escaped unhurt. In the summer of 
1863 he was with the Sibley expedition as a 
scout, and in the fall of the same year again 
put his mill in operation. Two years later 
he bought an interest in the Greenleaf saw- 
mill, which he retained about three ji^ears, and 
then jHirchased an interest in the Greenleaf 
flouring mill, he and his partner subsequently 
buying the old Cedar Mill. Matters became 
seriously complicated with the firm, and the 
outcome was a complete collapse. Albert 
then went to the Black Hills and spent the 
summer; and the following 3'ear went out 
and remained nearly two 3' ears, when he 
returned to Meeker county and purchased 
the fine farm where he at present makes his 
home, on section 25, Greenleaf township. 

He has been twice married, his first wife, 
Cecilia Nichols Delong, to whom he was 
married in 1803, bore him one child, Francis, 
born September 21, 1867. His first wife died 
in 1869, and in 1871 Mr. Delong was married 
to Mary Post, daughter of Abrani and Sarah 



Post, of Greenleaf. She was born Septem- 
ber 10, 1852, in the State of New York. 

Mr. Delong has taken an active interest in 
the affairs calculated- to benefit either his 
town or county, and is rated as one of the 
most prominent citizens in the south half of 
Meeker county. He is a member of Golden 
Fleece Lodge," No. 89, A. F. and A. M. 



v^. 



v^jJHARLES SMITH. Among the influen- 
;^p tial citizens of Cosmos township, is 
the gentleman whose name heads this article. 
He has been prominently identified with the 
growth and development of Minnesota since 
1S55, although he did not come to Meeker 
county until 1879. He is the son of Alex- 
ander and Henrietta (Sutphin) Smith, and 
was born in Upper Stillwater, Maine, on the 
19th of July, 1835. "When he was only two 
years of age his parents removed to the State 
of New Yoi-k, and settled at Plattsburgh, 
Clinton county, where they remained until 
taken from this world by death. 

The subject of this memoir resided beneath 
the parental roof until attaining his nine- 
teenth year, when he came to Minnesota, 
coming from Chicago with a team. In that 
year. 1851, there was but one building in 
either St. Anthony or Minneapolis, except 
the pul)lic edifices. He remained in St. Paul 
some six months, and then returned to New 
York, l)ut in the following fall returned to 
this State. He made his home in Minne- 
apolis until the year 1800, when he removed 
to Aitkin county, where he engaged in lum- 
bering. He was a resident of that county 
when it was organized, and was appointed by 
Governor Pillsbury as one of the organizing 
commissioners, and filled that oflice by elec- 
tion for some thirteen yeai-s. 

In the spring of 1861, when traitorous 
hands essayed to rend the Union in twain, 
Mr. Smith enlisted in Company D, First 



352 



MEEKER COU.VTY, MINNESOTA. 



Minnesota, and with that noble regiment, 
whose name brings up so many gallant deeds, 
participated in the first battle of J'uU Run, 
July 21, ISGl. lie was there wounded by a 
ball in the right shoulder, and was laid up 
for some seven months, Ijut on recovery 
re-enlisted in his old regiment, and stood 
with them in the awful Hood of lire, that so 
nearly annihilated them, at Antietam, and 
in the battle of Mill Spring. 

After his discharge Mi*. Smith came back 
to Minnesota, and in 1879 removed to this 
county and purchased a farm on section 22, 
where he now lives, in Cosmos township. 
Of his fine place of 200 acres, some 125 are 
under cultivation. 



-— ♦-S^^"*' 



BOCTOR WILL E. CHAPMAN, while 
not among the old practitioners of the 
county, has, by close attention to the duties 
of his profession and a remarkable success in 
gra])pling with the dread destroyer, death, 
taken a prominent position among the medi- 
cal fraternity of this county, and ranks high 
in the estimation of the community. 

Dr. Chapman isanativeof Hill, Merrimack 
county, N. II., born February 0, 1S57, and is 
the son of John W. and Charlotte (Taplin) 
Chapman, natives of Kew Hampshire and 
New York respectively. Our subject recei ved 
his primary education and was reared among 
the hills and valleys of the " Granite State," 
upon the paternal acres. At the age of 
fifteen years lie entered a drug store, where 
he remained about two years. Having then 
attained a sutticient age, he matriculated at 
the medical department of the Vermont State 
University, at Ihirlington, Yt., and after a 
rigid course of study was graduated from 
that celebrated institution of learning, in 
Julv, 1879. Tiie ne.xt year he located at 
North Branch, Chisago county, Minn., where 
he was engaged in the practice of his chosen 



profession for about two years. In 1882 he 
came to Meeker county, and opened an office 
in Forest City, but, after two years" labor in 
that field removed to Litchfield, and, com- 
mencing practice here, has rapidly grown 
into favor with the people of the city and 
the surrounding country. His pleasant man- 
nei's in the sick-room, his love for his calling 
and his rare judgment in diagnosis are fast 
fiainino- him friends and patrons, and bv care- 
ful stud}- to keep abreast of the times he 
merits the warmest encomiums. 

The Doctor assumed the duties of matri- 
mon\' December 24, 1883, while a resident 
of Forest Citv^, on wliich day he led to the 
hymeneal altar Miss Georgie Kimball, a na- 
tive of New Hampshire and a daughter of 
Edwin and Phoebe (Manwell) Kimball. 



I^HILIP DECK, deceased, who fell by the 
"lfS>^ deadly rifle of the ruthless Sioux dur- 
ing the tragic days of the Indian massacre in 
1862, was born in France May 24,1825. He 
learned the trade of baker in his native land, 
and there made his home until his twenty- 
first year, when he came to America and 
settled at Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y. He 
remained there until 185-4, at which date he 
removed to Sault Ste. Marie, and was the fore- 
man on the ship canal then in course of con- 
struction there. He staid there until that 
work was finished and then went to New York, 
but in the spring of 1856 came West, to Mil- 
waukee, Wis., where he made his home until 
July, 1860, when he came to Meeker county, 
arriving here the 5th of that month. He 
purchased 160 acres of land, which was ]iar- 
tially improved, on section 29, Manannah 
township, of William Wilcox, taking every- 
thing on the place, house, furniture, stock, 
crop in the field, etc. He then returned to Mil- 
waukee for his family, who arrived at St. Paul 
after numerous mishaps and troubles, and 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



355 



there made a stay of a da}', and from there to 
their place, where they located the same fall. 
Mr. Deck remained upon this farm until 
thetimeofthe Indian outbreak. The news 
of the murders in Acton reached the house 
about 11 o'clock in the forenoon of Monday, 
August ISth. Mrs. Deck was sick in bed, and 
Mr. Deck was away from home helping a 
neighbor harvest. Mrs. Ryckman brought 
the news, and took Mrs. Deck and her fam- 
ily to Silas Maybee's, where they were left 
while the men were sent for. The women 
soon saw some Indians approaching, and were 
terribly scared, but the savages did not come 
to the house. Mr. Deck rejoined his family 
that night, and remained there until morn- 
ing. The next night they spent at the 
house of ]Sr. C. Caswell, but learning that the 
outbreak was general, the entire body of set- 
tlers removed to Forest City. Friday Mr. 
Deck took his family to Kingston, where he 
remained until the following Monday, when, 
provisions running short, he returned to For- 
est City, with the intention of trying to get 
to his farm for clothing, provisions, etc. In 
company Avith Wilmot Maybee and others, 
they started, and met with the fate told in 
the history of the Indian massacre in this vol- 
ume. Shot in the very dooryard of Carlos 
Caswell's house, Mr. Deck was found some 
ten or twelve rods from where his wagon had 
stood, lying on his face, with eight bullet 
holes in his back, and it is supposed that, not 
being hit at the first fire, he jumped to the 
ground and ran that distance before he was 
shot. The home guard turned out the second 
day after and buried the dead, all except 
Wilmot Maybee, whose body was not found 
until three months after. Deck, Howe and 
Page were buried in one grave in Manannah 
cemeteiy, where, owing to the exertions and 
liberality of Mrs. Deck, there is erected a fine 
and appropriate monument to mark the place 
where rests the remains of her murdered 
husband and his companions. 



Mrs. Deck remained at Forest City until 
the following fall and then returned to 
Wayne county, N. Y., with her family of five 
children, where she remained until April 22, 
1879. On that date she returned to thjs 
county, having all these years had a hard 
struggle to keep her little family and pay 
the taxes on her farm. Almost everything- 
upon the latter was destroyed by the savage 
marauders, the loss amounting to some 
$1,100, which Mrs. Deck did not receive from 
the State until nearly twelve years after, 
owing to the carelessness of those intrusted 
with her business. 

Mr. and Mrs. Deck were united in mar- 
riage April 23, 18-19, at Lyons, N. Y. The lady, 
whose maiden name was Miss Salome Shimpf, 
was boi'n at Salza, France, November 21, 
1830, and came to the United States in 1810. 
They were the parents of five children, as 
follows — Philopena, born December 4, 1850, 
now married and living iu New Yoi'k; Mag- 
dalena, born May 18, 1852, also married and 
living in the same place ; Josephine, born 
March 11,1856, married, making her home in 
the Empire State; Franklin, in this coimty; 
and Marie Louise, born December 22, 1860, 
died December 9, 1862. 

Franklin Deck, who was born August 2, 
1858, in Humboldt, Milwaukee, Wis., came 
back to Meeker county with liis mother in 
1879, and purchasing eighty acres on section 
28, Manannah, carries on agricultural pur- 
suits on it and upon the family homestead, 
and with him the widowed mother makes 
her home. 



^«« 



.-^►^ 



TEETER D. RINGSTROM, the landlord 
llg>^ of the Grove City House, is a native 
of Sweden, born March 17, 1814, and is the 
son of Nels and Ingra Kingstrom. His pa- 
rents were farmers in that country, and he 
was reared to agricultural pursuits and re- 



356 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



ceived the elements of a fair education. He re- 
mained at home until some twenty-seven years 
■old, when, bidding adicni to the parental roof 
and all whom it sheltered, he crossed the 
■ocean to a home in America. On landing, 
he came direct to Atwater, this State, arriv- 
ing at that place May 24, 1S71. Entering 
the emjiloy of Pahrs Pahrson he was en- 
gaged in farm work that summer and on the 
railroad during the fall and winter. Going 
to Breclcenridge he was employed as hotel 
■clerk and liartender for about six months, 
after which he worked on the railroad in the 
nfigld)orhood of Alexandria, where he re- 
mained until October 3, 1872. He then made 
his home for a short time with Peter Chris- 
toferson, with whom he always remained 
when out of employment, while waiting for 
money due him from his Breckenridge em- 
ployer, intending to go back to Sweden, but 
falling in love with Mr. Christoferson's 
daughter Joanna, he gave up the prospective 
tri]) and married the young lady. The young 
couple moved on her homestead claim and 
Mr. Pmgstrom commenced farming and con- 
tinued to follow this avocation until 1885, 
when he rented the farm and sold agricultu- 
ral machinery. They made their home upon 
their place, however, until March 28, 1888, 
when, renting the Grove City House, he re- 
moved with his family to tlie village, and is 
now running the hotel. March 31, 1888, he 
was elected chief of the police of the village 
and fills that position. 

Mrs. Ringstrom is a native of Sweden, born 
April 8, 1844, and came to the United. States 
with her parents in 18fi4. She was at the 
time of her marriage with the subject of this 
sketch, the widow of Charles Johnson, who 
died in Illinois on their road to Minnesota. 
Mr. and Mrs. Eingstrom are the parents of 
four children — Kels Peter, born April 8, 
1876; Carl Oscar, born October 17, 1878; 
Alice, born April 10, 1883; and Saraii. liorn 
April 20, 1887. 



^iCHAEL FINNEGAN, one of the 
^_i.S^^ most prominent and successful 
farmers and stock-raisers in Aleeker county, 
is a resident of section 28, Harvey township. 
He has one of the most valuable farms in the 
county, and his building and other improve- 
ments are a credit to the townsiiip in which 
he lives. 

Mr. Finnegan was born in Ireland, on the 
2d of December, 1852. AViien he was less 
than two years of age, his parents came to 
the United States, and for several years they 
moved about considerably, tlie father follow- 
ing the trade of blacksmithing. In 1857, the 
father, Patrick Finnegan, came to Meeker 
county, ]\nnn., and imrchascd a farm in Har- 
vey township, and lived on tlie farm carry- 
ing on his farming operations, and at the 
same time working at his trade. He was 
living on the farm with the family at the 
time of the Indian outbreak. The same day 
as the massacre at Acton, a neighbor brought 
them the news of the killing, and they went 
to Forest City with the rest to decide what 
course to pursue, returning to the farm the 
next day. The following day they went to 
Clearwater, where they remained until the 
fall of 1862. During the winter they lived 
at Elk River, and then settled at Minneapolis, 
where they remained until the ensuing fall. 
During that winter the father worked on the 
Omaha railroad, and the family lived at Fort 
Snelling, and in tiie spring they returned to 
Minneapolis. In July, 1865, they returned 
to tiieir farm in Harvey township, where the 
family have since lived. Thefatherdied in Har- 
vey May 23, 1885, and was burieil at Litch- 
field. In his death the county lost a worthy 
and substantial citizen, and a respected old 
settler. His widow still lives in Harvey. 

IVIichael Finnegan, tlie subject of this 
.sketch, is an active member of tiie Catholic 
Church. In political matters he affiliates 
witii the democratic party. He has been 
vei'y successful in his farming o])erations, and 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



357 



has the reputation of being one of the best 
business men in the township. In connection 
with diversiHed farming, he carries on stock- 
raising extensively, for ■\vhicli tlie farm is 
conveniently arranged. 



"^^'^^,^^- 



J^TaRRY H. mines, an intelligent and 
JKL trusted citizen of the village of Dassel, 
the superintendent anil manager of the Min- 
nesota and Dakota elevator, is a native of 
Colchester, Chittenden county, Yt., born in 
August, 1848, and is the son of Benjamin and 
Emily (Rolfe) Ilines. His paternal grand- 
father, William Hines, was one of the earliest 
settlers of the town of Colchester, as was the 
maternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob 
Rolfe, and these two gentlemen and one other 
owned, at one time, nearly the entire town. 
William Hines lived and died among the ver- 
dant hills of the " Green Mountain State," 
where he settled, and on his death the home- 
stead descended to his son Benjamin, the father 
of our subject, who, besides managing three 
good farms in that portion of the countrj^, 
was engaged in mercantile pursuits. Jacob 
Rolfe, the giundfather of Harry, mentioned 
above, was a colonel in command of the 
"Green Mountain Boys" during the last con- 
flict with Great Britain, 1S12-15, and was a 
gallant and able soldier, and our subject 
recollects his telling of war experiences, in 
his younger days. 

Harry H. Ilines came to Meeker county 
in 1868, and settled in what is now Litchfield 
township, on section 31, where he followed 
agricultural pursuits for some ten years, after 
which he removed, after selling his pro]ierty, 
to the village of Darwin, where he purchased 
wheat and other grain for the Davidson Ele- 
vator Company. In August, 1SS6, he came 
to Dassel and assumed charge of the elevator 
where he is now located. He has, since first 
coming here, taken a lively interest in all 



educational and political affairs, and is now 
serving as one of the school directors of the 
the village. In his political affiliations he is 
in thorough accord with the republican party, 
and supports the candidates of that organiza- 
tion. He is a member of the Golden Fleece 
Lodge, No. 89, A. F. & A. M., having been 
made a Mason at Litchfield in 1882. Mr. Hines 
was united in marriage with Miss Maggie 
Harding, October It), 1870. His life com- 
panion is a native of Jennings county, Ind., 
and a daughter of Mitchell and Mary Ann 
(Reeves) Harding. By this marriage there 
have been six ciiildren — Maud, Grace, Bessie, 
Benjamin, Blanche and the baby. 

• ■' >" ^€^>^— '- 

^jJl^HE PRESENT county treasurer of Mee- 
uiiy ker county, N. W. Hawkinsox, an old 
settler of the village of Litchfield, is a native 
of Skone, Sweden, and was born in 1837. 
He remained in his native countrj^ until he 
was thirty-two years of age. His father 
died when he was about fourteen years of 
age, and short!}' after this he began learning 
the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he spent 
an apprenticeship of three years and then 
followed as a trade for four 3'ears. He then 
learned the carpenter's trade, and followed 
that until he was twent}' eight, when he 
•entered the mercantile business and remained 
in that until 1869, when he sold out and 
came to Minnesota, coming direct to Meeker 
county. For a time he stayed at Forest City, 
following the carpenter's trade, but in No- 
vember of the same year he went to Califoi*- 
nia, and followed his trade there for about 
one year, working up and down the Pacific 
coast. At the eiul of that time he returned 
to Sweden, going by way of the Isthmus of 
Panama and New York. He remained in 
his native land until the following June, 
1871, and then came again to Meeker county, 
Minn., locating at Litchfield, where he has 



358 



AfEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



since lived. I'^or a number of years he fol- 
lowed his trade, but in the fall of 1883 he 
was elected to the office of county treasurer, 
and, being re-elected in the fall of 1880, he 
is the present incumbent of that office. He 
is a careful and j)ainstaking official, and has 
filled the office with credit to himself and 
satisfaction to the ])ublic. Mi'. Iluwkinson 
is a prominent membei' of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, holding membership in Golden 
Fleece Lodge, Xo. 89; Rabboni Chapter, 
ISTo. 37; and Melita Commandery, No. 17, 
Knights Templar, iuul has held various offices 
in these organizations. He is also a member 
of the Ancient Order of United "Workmen, 
and was one of the charter members of the 
organization at Litchfield, of which he is the 
present financier. 

Mr. Hawkinson was married in 1862 to 
Miss Nellie Hanson, of Sweden, and they 
Avere blessed with three children — Andrew, 
Ellen and Annie. The wife and mother died 
shortly after their removal to the United 
States. Mr. Hawkinson was again married, 
in ] 873, to Annie Katharena Anderson. They 
have one child — Harry. All of the children 
are still at home, except Andrew and Ellen, 
who are now residents of Minneapolis. 



^^^ 



^•-^— - 



^.EORGE PAULSON, a farmer of Acton 
township, has probably the most 
famous and historic piece of land in Minne 
sota. He owns the place where the Jones 
and Baker families were killed by the In- 
dians on the 17th of August, 1862 — the spot 
where the first blood was shed in the memor- 
able Indian massacre of 1862. Mr. Paulson 
is a native of Norway, and was born on the 
3d of March, 1855, his parents being George 
and Anna Paulson. The family came to the 
United States in 1868, and after stopping for 
one year in Iowa, they came to Meeker 
county, Minn., and took a homestead on sec 



tion 33, in Acton township. In 1877 they 
went to Dakota, where George Paulson, Jr., 
took a homestead, and remained until 1886, 
when he sold out and returned to Minnesota, 
and purchased the farm in Acton township, 
where he still lives. He has a valuable farm 
and devotes his attention to "-eneral farming 

O O 

and stock raising. The farm is often visited 
by sight-seers, who wish to look ujion the old 
cabin and the site which has become famous 
in Minnesota's history. The subject of this 
sketch was married at LitcMeld, January 
25, 1875, to Miss Christina Kittelson, who 
was born in AVisconsin March 3, 1854, and 
their union has been blessed with the follow- 
ing-named children — Clara Josephine, who 
was born April 28, 1877, died a few months 
later; Carl Johan, born June 29, 1878 ; Ella, 
born September 27, 1880; James Christan, 
born October 18, 1883 ; Anna Josephine, born 
March 13, 1884 ; and Cora, born December 
30, 1887. Mr. Paulson's parents still reside 
in Dakota. 



■* V' •( 



^HARLES H. DUCKERING, one of the 
-^' most prosperous farmers and stock 
raisers of Cosmos township, resides upon sec- 
tion 30, where he cultivates about 150 acres 
of his magnificent 400-acre tract. He is a 
native of Beaver Dam, "Wis., born on the 
25th of September, 1849, and is the son 
of John and Maria (Bean) Duckering, who 
were natives of England and New York, 
respectively. In 1863, when our subject was 
about sixteen years of age, he came with his 
parents to Meeker county and settled with 
them in Ellsworth township. He remained 
beneath the parental roof until 1871, when 
he came to Cosmos and took up a homestead 
on section 30, and breaking some twenty-five 
acres and putting up a house, made a penna- 
nent settlement. In 1877 he leased his farm 
and made a trip to "Washington Territory, 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



359 



and prolonged his stay there until the 
beginning of 1880, at which time he returned 
to this county and has lived on his farm 
ever since. He is largely engaged in stock- 
raising, but still has some 1,500 bushels of 
grain as the result of his labors each year. 
In 1876 and 1877, he lost about all his crop 
through the incursions of the grasshoppers, 
and the outlook being poor he went to the 
West, as before mentioned. 

Mr. Duckering has been called upon sev- 
eral tiiues to nil the responsible olRce of 
town supervisor, and has been chairman of 
that Ijoard for four consecutive years. He 
has filled several of the minor offices, as well 
as been director of district No. 53. He still 
holds the last-named position. 

July 18, 1880, Mr. Duckering was united 
in marriage with Miss Sarah I. Dean, a 
native of Bartholomew county, Ind., and 
daughter of John and Eliza (Roberts) Dean, 
residents of Hutchinson, McLeod county. 
By this union there have been three chil- 
dren — John S., born May 27, 1881 ; Daisy, 
born May 9, 1883 ; and Edna, born May 15, 
1885. 



"•"V*~*l 



NDREW J. ANDERSON, the senior 
'~^^\ partner in the firm of Anderson & 
Hanson, hardware dealers in the village of 
Litchfield, is a native of Norway, born in 
1843. "When he was about a year old he 
was brought by his parents to the United 
States, they settling in Waukesha county. 
Wis., where they were among the very ear- 
liest settlers. They remained in that place 
until 1850, when the}' removed to Winnebago 
county in the same State, ami in 1866 to 
this county. 

Andrew remained at home with his parents 
until 1864, when he enlisted in Company H, 
Fifth Wisconsin Infantr}', and served in that 
noble regiment until the close of the war. 



He participated in several of the engage- 
ments of the bloody campaign that closed 
the war, particularly in the immortal charge 
on the lines at Petersburg, Va., April 1 and 
2, 1865. After receiving his discharge Mr. 
Anderson returned to Wisconsin, but in 1866 
came to Meeker county, where he took up a 
homestead in the town of Harvey. He was 
engaged in farming until 1876, at which 
time he removed to Litchfield and entered 
into the sale of farm nuvchinery and imple- 
ments. He made quite a success in this busi- 
ness, and in Ma}', 1886, in copartnership 
with Nels C. G. Hanson, he opened the 
hardware establishment where he now car- 
ries on business, and in conjunction with 
which they still make a specialty of the sale 
of agricultural machinerv. Mr. Anderson is 
a prominent member of Frank Daggett 
Post, No. 35, G. A. Pt., of Litchfield, and 
takes great interest in the order. 



.-^> 



l^RANK J. CHEVRE, the owner and 
JP^ manager of the pioneer elevator at 
the village of Darwin, is a native of Chau- 
tauqua county, N. Y., born November 6, 
1859, and is the son of Henry J. and Jean- 
nette (Fievre) Chevre, who are of French an- 
cestry. His father came to Minnesota in 
1867, and died in August, 1874, and his re- 
mains lie buried in Scott county, this State. 
The subject of this sketch left the Empire 
State with his parents in 1867, and settled 
with them at Chaska, Carver county, where 
he received his primary' education. At the 
age of thirteen he removed to Minneapolis to 
attend school and remained until in his nine- 
teenth year, in study and the pursuits of 
knowledge. For a year thereafter he was 
engaged in keeping books, but at the end of 
that time he came to Dassel and commenced 
to learn the miller's trade, and finally took 
charge of the Washington flour mill of that 



360 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



place which he ran successfully until the 
spring of 18ST, at wiiicii time he removed to 
the village of Darwin and erected the eleva- 
tor where he now carries on business. He is 
an unmarried man, his mother living with 
him, and one of the most reliable, trust- 
worthy citizens of town, and. for so young 
a man, possesses a large share of the respect 
and esteem of the whole community. In his 
political views he is in accord with the prin- 
ciples formulated by the republican party, 
and supports, Avith energy, the candidates 
and platforms of that organization. As a 
business man, he is active, enterprising and 
upright, and socially, genial and companion- 
able, and bids fair to achieve a high position 
in life. 



ENRY CLAY, the popular postmaster 
of the village of Dassel, is the son of 
Caleb and Zilpah (Akers) Clay, and first saw 
the light January 4, 18i2, in Lawrence 
county, Ky. His father was a native of Vir- 
ginia, and his mother of Tennessee, who 
had married in Pike county, Ky., and later 
moved northward to Lawrence county. 
Some time after the birth of our subject they 
removed to "Wayne county, W. Ya., where 
they made their home until the spring of 
1866, at which time they came to Minnesota 
and settled in McLeod county. A year later 
they made their appearance in Collinwood 
township, this county, but in the spring of 
1868 settled on section 28, in what is now 
Dassel township, where they resided until 
called to " cross the dark river. Death," the 
mother in 1875, the father in 1877. 

Henry remained beneath the paternal roof 
until September 5, 1861, when he was united 
in ^Tarriage with Miss Martha Bartrum, a 
native of Boyd county, Ky., after which he 
with his young wife settled on a farm in 
Wayne county, W. Va. On the 24th of 



June, 1863, Henry enlisted in Companj' B, 
Fortj'-fifth Kentucky Mounted Infantry, and 
served in the Union army. They were em- 
ployed in the pursuit of Morgan when on his 
famous raid, and Mr. Clay, with the balance 
of the command, was in the saddle for twen- 
t\'-six days and nights, only stopping long 
enough to feed their horses and cook their 
coffee. The little sleep they got was found 
in the saddle. They were in two engage- 
ments, Mt. Sterling and Cynthiana, at the 
last named totally scattering and demoral- 
izing the rebels, and the command for sev- 
eral days were engaged in picking up strag- 
o'lers. Amono; them w^ere a cousin and an 
old school mate, the former with his arm 
broken. Out of Mr. Clay's family he was the 
only loyal one, all his brothers except one 
being in the Confederate army. He received 
his discharge December 21, 1864, and the 
next spring came to Minnesota, and after 
remaining in Glencoe some eighteen months 
removed to Meeker county and took up a 
claim on section 32, in what is now Dassel 
township. This being all timber his crops 
for a year or so were quite limited, but as 
the land was cleared they grew more ex- 
tensive. He remained upon the farm until 
1870 or 1871, and then entered the employ of 
the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Rail- 
road Company, building snow fences, al- 
though his family resided on the farm. In 
December, 1887, he removed his family to 
the village of Dassel, and on the 1st of 
May, 1887, took possession of the post- 
office, he having been appointed to that posi- 
tion. 

Mr. Clay is an active and influential mem- 
ber of Colfax Post, No. 133, G. A. R., and 
was one of the signers for a charter for that 
society. Mr. and Mrs. Clay are the parents 
of seven children, whose names are as fol- 
lows —Rufus E., Ida M., John F., Emily E., 
Walter Scott and Walter McClellan, twins, 
and Clifford H. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



361 



^jp^AYLOR JOHNSON, a leading Scandi- 



w 



ship, living on section 9, was born in Sweden 
June 10, 1832, and is the son of John and 
Christina Jolinson. At the age of eleven 
years he commenced to learn the tailor's 
trade, and followed that line of business in 
his native land until 1S5S, when, with a nat- 
ural desire to better his condition in life, he 
crossed the ocean to America. He settled 
in Carver county, this State, putting in his 
time on a twenty -acre tract that he purchased 
there, and in working for his neighbors, until 
August 20, 1SC2, when he enlisted in Com- 
pany H, Ninth Minnesota Infantry. The 
next day he heard of the Indian outbreak, 
and took his family to an island in Clear- 
water Lake, where many others had fled for 
.safety, where the}' camped without shelter 
from the rain. Three days later Mrs. John- 
son went home to their little cabin in the 
brush, with her fom* children, her husband 
going with his regiment to Glencoe. He 
remained in that locality until spring, and 
then participated in the Sibley expedition, 
and was present at the hanging of the thirty- 
eight Indians at Mankato. In October, 18^3, 
he, with the regiment, was ordered South, 
and met the enemy at Guntown, Miss. They 
also were engaged in the siege and cnpture 
of Mobile. Our subject Avas mustered out of 
service in October, 1865, and returned to his 
home. While he was absent in the army, 
his wife was laid up by sickness brought on 
by exposure, and for the last week of her 
illness she and her little ones were without 
food or fire, although it was cold winter 
weather. An old man hobbled over on 
crutches, finall}', to find what had become 
of them, and helped them out of their dis- 
tress by sawing up some wood and sending 
in some provisions. 

In the spring of 1866 Mr. Johnson removed 
to Minneapolis, where he was employed in 
lumber yards, etc., until the spring of 1869, 



when he came to CoUinwood township and 
settled where he now lives. He was mar- 
ried November 1, 1855, to Christina Louisa 
Anderson, a native of Sweden, born June 12, 
1835, and dangliter of Andrew and Katrina. 
Anderson. They have had eleven children, 
namely — Ilulda, born December 14, 1856, 
died January 11, 1873; Frank Victor, born 
January 1, 1859; Abbie, born October 9, 
1860; Clara, born August 3, 1862; Godfrey, 
born April 30, 1806, and died September 10, 
1866; August, born July 21:, 1867; Joseph- 
ine, born October 22, 1869 ; Ida, born Decem- 
ber 25, 1871, and died September 16, 1878 % 
Alice, born April l-l, 1874; Hulda, born 
July 9, 1876, and died April 21, 1880; and 
Nathaniel, born March 26, 1878. 

Mr. Johnson is a zealous member of the 
Lutheran Church. In politics he is a repub- 
lican of the strict type, and is an influential 
citizen. His estimable wife is beloved bv all 
with Avhom she comes in contact, and her 
home-loving tastes are abundantly testified 
to by the multitude of choice ])lants and 
flowering shrubs that adorn and beautify 
her home, and make winter lovely Avith sum- 
mer's perfumes and verdure. 



|AV1D ANDERSON. The subject of 



^ this sketch is one of the leading and 
well-to-do farmers of Acton township, being 
a resident of section 7 in that subdivision of 
Meeker county. He is a native of Sweden, 
born February 14, 1829, and a son of Andreas 
and Christina Anderson. In 1861 he came 
to the United States, and for one summer he 
worked in Illinois ; then he settled at Clear- 
watei', "Wright county, Minn., where he 
rented a farm and remained for three years. 
At the expiration of that time he went to 
Idaho to seek his fortune in the gold fields, 
and, being very successful there, he remained 
three yeai-s. In 1868 he came to Meeker 



362 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



county, Jlinn., and bought 240 acres of rail- 
road land iu Acton townshi]), where he now 
lives. Three years later he returned to the 
gold fields of Idaho, and engaged in mining 
and the hotel business, in company with his 
brother, Solomon, and, while in the midst of 
their prosperity, making money very rapidly, 
their mining camp broke uji, many of their 
boarders being left penniless, and from these 
and kindred causes they lost about $13,000. 
David, thereupon, sold his property there^ 
returned to his farm in Acton, and engaged 
in farming and stock-raising, which business 
he has since continued. He has a valuable 
farm, good improvements, and a good deal 
of stock, lie has met with some slight re- 
verses, especially during the grasshopper 
raids, but, withal, has been verj- successful, 
and his enterprise and good management 
have earned for him a competency. In poli- 
tical matters, he is republican, and in religion, 
he is a member of the Swedish Lutheran 
Chui'ch. 

Mr. Anderson was married in Sweden, in 
1852, to Miss Petronella Samuelsdatter, a 
native of the same land. The fruits of their 
union have been one child, Solomon, who 
was born on the 24th of December, 1853. 
Solomon is unmarried and still lives with his 
parents. 



-«- 



►-»> 



ELS CHARLES G. HANSON was born 
May 14, 1857, at Hamburg, Germany 
■while his parents, Bengt and Elna Hanson, 
were on their way from their native land, 
Sweden, to America, and is a twin brother 
of C. J. G. Hanson. His parents settled on 
a farm in what is now Litchfield township, in 
1857, where our subject grew to manhood. 

Charles remained with his parents until 
1S79, at which time he entered the employ 
of the St. Paul & Duluth Railroad Company, 
with whom he remained but one winter, and 



then worked for a time for the St. Paul Har- 
vester AVorks, traveling through the country 
as an expert in their business. One year later 
he transferred his services to the McCormick 
Harvester Company, and traveled through 
the Southern States, and followed the harvest 
season north again. In 1880 he was engaged 
in farming on section 27, Litchfield town- 
ship. In the spring of 1887, in company 
with A. J. Anderson, he opened their pres- 
ent hardware and agricultural depot at 
Litchfield. 

Mr. Hanson and Miss Clara L. Ahlstrom 
Avere united in marriage June 30, 1S87. The 
lady is the diiughter of A. M. and Christine 
Ahlstrom, who were among the earliest pio- 
neers that broke the way for civilization into 
the wilds of Chisago county, Minn. 



/^ORNELIUS McGRAW, a prominent 
\^J^ farmer and stock-raiser residing on 
section 33, Greenleaf townshij), is one of the 
oldest settlers residing in that portion of the 
count3^ He came to Meeker county in 1860 
with his parents, who were Michael and 
Winnefred McGraw, and the father selected 
160 acres of land on section 26, in Greenleaf 
township. At that time the family consisted 
of the parents, six boys and two girls, and 
four of the boys are still living here. Accom- 
panying the party were Patrick ]\Ianley and 
family, M. Ilanley and famil}^ M. Ryan and 
familj'^, Lewis Maher and family, and a Mr. 
Carrigan and family, all of whom settled in 
Greenleaf. The part}' arrived in July, and 
Michael McGraw at once put up a cabin and 
began improvements. He remained on the 
farm, except during the Indian troubles, 
until the time of his death, which occurred in 
March, 1878. His widow is still living on 
the old farm. 

Cornelius McGraw, the subject of this 
biography, remained with his parents until 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



365 



the time of the Indian outbreak. After they 
heard of the killing of Jones and Baker, he 
went to G. C. AVhitconib's to learn the par- 
ticulars, and returned that night. The fol- 
lowing (lay the whole settlement gathered at 
Whitcomb's, and remained there for two 
days, when all hands started for Forest Cit}', 
driving their stock with them. The follow- 
ing day Cornelius returned to his father's 
house and found that the Indians had been 
there, but had not burned it. After Whit- 
comb had returned from St. Paul with guns 
and ammunition, Cornelius enlisted in the 
company which was organized, and served 
in it until it was disbanded. In the spring 
of 1863 he joined the Inde]3endent Battalion 
Minnesota Volunteer Cavalry, and served on 
the frontier until the war closed. He then 
returned to Gi'eenleaf and worked at various 
things until 1869 when he pui'ohased 160 
acres of wild land on section 27, and at once 
began improvements. He lived upon that 
for about ten years, when he sold it and 
bought his present place on section 33, where 
he now has 235 acres, well improved with 
excellent buildings. He devotes his attention 
largely to stock-raising, and his able manage- 
ment has placed him among the most prom- 
inent stock-raisers and general farmers of 
the county. 

He has taken an active interest in educa- 
tional matters, and has held various offices 
in his district. In political matters he does 
not hold himself bound to any ])arty, but 
acts independently. 

Mr. McGraw made a gallant and credit- 
able record during Indian times. When the 
Indians made the attack on Forest City, he 
was asleep, and, not until the bullets were 
flying thick and Indians yelling all around 
was he aroused. He started up to find that 
he was left alone with a single companion. 
They each grasped a box of ammunition and 
fire arms, a heavy load, and started for the 
stockade, arriving in safety amidst the yells 



and bullets of the foe. For three years and a 
half he was in service, fighting the redskins 
wheneveran opportunity presented, and never 
flinched when dutv called. He began fight- 
ing Indians when only si.xteen, and his brav- 
ery equaled that of the hardiest of men. He 
was one of the nine who remained in Forest 
City in those trying times, when there was 
scarcely a white man in the county beside 
themselves. 



/^^EORGE MAYNARD. The suljject of 
V^r>i this sketch is one of the residents of 
Ivingst(jn township at present, although one 
of the first settlers in the town of Dassel, 
where he located in May, 1866. He made 
his home in that part of the count}' for about 
twenty j'ears and then removed to his pres- 
ent place, which is located upon section 32. 
He is one of the " woods " farmers and stock- 
raisers of the town, and one of its represent- 
ative citizens. 

Mr. Maynard was born in Floyd county, 
Ky., on the 27th of August, 1852, and is the 
son of Rev. William and Sarah (Parsons) 
Maynard. His father was, also, born upon 
" the dark and bloody ground," and was 
ordained a minister in 1860, and first preached 
the gospel in Floyd county, in his native 
State. He came to Meeker count}' in 1866, 
settling in Dassel, Avhere he cast the first 
vote after its organization, and where he has 
continued to fulfill his duties as watchman 
upon the walls of Zion. since coming here. 
He is still a resident of Dassel. 

George Maynard was but thirteen years of 
age when his parents came here, and was 
reared the balance of his days in this count}', 
together with his brothers and sisters. These 
latter were Susan, jS'ancy, Oma, Charity, 
Maggie, James N. and Robert G. Finishing 
the education l)egan in Kentucky, after 
coming here, Mr. Maynard grew to man- 
hood upon his father's farm. 



366 



MEEKER COUA'J'V, MEVNESOTA. 



March 5, 1875, George Maynard and Miss 
Margaret Sanson were united in marriage. 
The lady is a native of "West Virginia, born 
in 1859, and daughter of "Riley and Sarah 
Sanson, who were natives of the same State, 
but residents of this county now. By this 
union there have been born a family of five 
children — Sarah, "William R., Minerva J., 
Margaret A. and James M. Mr. Maynard is 
a member of the Seventh Day Advent Church. 
In his politics he affiliates with the repulili- 
can party. 

— -«" 

JTOHN OGREN, a wealthy, successful and 
^ prominent farmer and stock-raiser, re- 
siding on section 20, Danielson township, 
conies of the same thrifty and enterprising 
nationality which forms such a large ele- 
ment in the best class of citizens in Minne- 
sota's population. Industrious, economical 
and enterprising, his characteristics are the 
natural result of the general training given 
to the youth of his nationality. Having 
come here a poor man and accumulated a 
comfortable property he is a self-made man, 
and his present easy circumstances is entirely 
due to his own industry and efforts. 

Mr. Ogren is a son of Andrew and Han- 
nah Anderson, and was born in Sweden on 
the 17th March, 1838. His early life was 
spent in his native land, where he remained 
imtil 1 SOU, when he came to the United 
States and proceeded to Stillwater, Minn., 
where he remained for four months, being 
emjiloyed for two weeks on the river, and 
the balance of the time working for farmers. 
At the expiration of that time, October 1, 
1869, he came to Meeker county, Minn., and 
took a homestead on section 20, in Danielson 
township, where he still lives. He now owns 
520 acres of land upon which he has placed 
excellent building imjjrovements. The farm 
is among the most valuable in the township, 



as a good share of it is under cultivation. 
He has it well stocked. "When Mr. Ogren 
took his homestead he had only $10 left after 
buying one cow and a yoke of oxen. 

Mr. Ogren was married on the 4th of Jan- 
uarv, 1868, to Carrie Larson, a daughter of 
Lewis and Bertha Larson, who was born 
February 13, 1837. Their marriage has been 
blessed with six children, as follows — An- 
drew, born December 1, 1868, died March 
17, 1870; Josephine, born July 19, 1870; 
Hilda Christine, born November 1, 1872; 
"William, born April 11, 1874; Anna Caro- 
lina, born March 31, 1876 ; and Alfred, born 
July 8, 1S79. The family are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

In political matters Mr. Ogren is a repub- 
lican, and he has taken an active interest in 
matters affecting the welfare of his town- 
ship as an organization. He has held vari- 
ous local offices, including those of school 
treasurer one year, and road overseer three 
years. 



^^^ 



^M DOLPH MAASS, an enterprising, intel- 
_Z^Sjl ligent and successful farmer residing 
on section 3, Litchfield township, was Lorn 
in Brandenburg, Germany, on the 14th of 
July, 1840, and is a son of John and Maria 
(Evert) Maas. The parents are both dead, 
having died in their native land. Adolph 
grew to manhood in his native land, receiv- 
ing a common-school education, and working 
most of the time on a farm. He acquired the 
same habits of frugality and industry' that 
characterizes his race and makes them the 
most desirable citizens which Jlinnesota has 
received from the Old "\Yorld. In 1869 
Adolph came to the United States and set- 
tled in St. Louis county, Mo., where he re- 
mained for two years and then went to Ten- 
nessee. A year later he went back to Mis- 
souri, and after a year's residence there he 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



367 



came to Minnesota, and after remaining for 
a few montlis in Cloodlme county, returned 
to Missouri. Tlie following summer of 1875, 
he again came to Minnesota, and after re- 
maining for two winters in Scott county, in 
1878 he came to Meeker county, and settled 
in Litchfield township, whei'e he has since 
lived. He has a valuable farm within easy 
reach of the county seat, and there devotes 
his attention to general farming and stock- 
raising. 

Mr. Maass was married on the 17th of No- 
vember, 1877, to Miss Augusta Arndt, and 
their union has been blessed with two chil- 
dren, Frederick and Adolph, both of whom 
are still living and at home. Mrs. Maass is 
also a native of Germany. She. came to the 
United States in 1868 with her parents and 
they settled in Scott county, Minn., where 
the father and mother are still living. The 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Maass took place 
in that count}'. 

In political matters Mr. Maass does not 
follow the dictates of any party, but. acts in- 
dependently and votes for the man rather 
than creed. Both Mr. and Mrs. Maass are 
active members of the Lutheran Church, and 
are exemplary Christian people. 



-«-J 



l^^^ 



l&jjUKE RAILS, one of the industrious, ener- 
ll^i^ getic and able farmers of Manannah 
township, came to Meeker county in the fall 
of 1866, with two other men, Silas and John 
Cossairt, and took up a homestead claim in 
the spring of 1867. As an instance of his 
foresight he said to his companions, although 
they had no neighbors for miles, nothing 
between theni and Manannah or Forest City. 
that inside of twenty years there would be a 
railroad through here, meaning by their 
farms or near them, and that he would buy 
a railroad "forty." on section 3, whether he 
took up a homestead or not, which he accord- 



ingly did, and in 1886 the Minneapolis and 
Pacific Kailroad came to the neighborhood. 
Soon after neighbors became more plentiful 
and the vicinit}' settled up. 

Mr. Rails is a native of Vermillion county^ 
111., born April 27, 1840, and is the son of 
James and Sarah (Wiles) Rails. He was. 
reared in that portion of the great " Prairie 
State," and early in life was initiated into- 
the mysteries of agriculture and hard work.. 
Attainingthe years of manhood, with a nat- 
ural desire for a home of his OM-n and the 
jo}' s of the family hearth, he was united in 
marriage, March 10, 1864, with Miss Eliza 
A. Cossairt, a native, also, of Vermillioni 
county, and the daughter of Samuel and 
Rachel (Venible) Cossairt. Shortly after 
this happy event he removed to Foi'd county, 
111., but in September, 1866, started from 
there with teams, for Stearns county, Minn. 
In their party were Samuel Cossairt and 
family, Mr. Rails and wife, and two young 
men. On their arrival they settled here, as 
mentioned above. Mr. Rails has now a farm 
of 200 acres of land, and has made good 
improvements on the place. Both he and 
his wife are members of the Christian 
Church at Eden Valley and zealous workers 
in the vineyard of our Lord. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Rails consists 
of four children — "William IL, born April 26, 
1865; Samuel F., born April 1, 1871; Leslie 
E., born July 28, 1874 ; Edith V., born July 
2.3, 1879. 



■^^ 



^P^RS. MARY BELFOY {nee McGannon), 
\i^^ a resident of Litchfield, is a 
native of Jennings count}% Ind., born July 
8, 1843, and is the daughter of John and 
Mary (Carney) McGannon, natives of Vir- 
ginia and Kentucky, respectively. She was 
united in marriage, June 11, 1862, with John 
Blackwell. 



368 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



John Blackwoll was born in Gloucester- 
shire, Enghmd, January 4, 1832, and came 
to Meeker county April 15, 1857, and set- 
tled in Acton, where he was one of the pio- 
neers. He was a mason by trade, but found 
but little to do at that calling in the new- 
country, so worked on his farm in summer 
and taught school in the winter seasons, 
being the first to teach in Litchfield town- 
ship. After his marriage he went i^nto his 
farm to live, and while there was interrupted 
by the news of tiie Indian outbreak. (_)n the 
eventful night of August 17, 1S(')2, he organ- 
ized a posse to go to the houses of Jones 
and Baker to assist the wounded, if any, and 
was the first to enter the Baker cabin, where 
with a steady hand he struck a light, a peril- 
ous proceeding under tiie circumstances, as 
he made himself a mark for any lurking foe. 
He it was that found the little child at Jones' 
house and gave him into the hands of one of 
the men who accompanied him. Some time 
after this he went to Anoka with his j'oung 
wife and there remained until 1865, when he 
retui-ned to this count\' and o{)ened a store 
in the township of Eipley, now Litchfield. 
In the fall of that year he was elected to the 
office of register of deeds and removed to 
Forest City. Shortly after assuming the duties 
of that position, James M. Harvey, the clerk 
of the district court, died, and that office was 
also conferred ujion Mr. Black well, and a short 
time after he was also made school examiner, 
thus holding three offices at one and the 
same time. From this time on he was an 
occupant of some of the county offices until 
his death, which took place Ma}' 21, 1875, 
while he was judge of probate. He left five 
children — Minnie, wife of F. P. Olney, of 
Litchfield; Marv J., Mrs. Charles Downey, 
of Minneapolis ; Addie, George, and John 
at home, and Mattie, deceased. On the 7th 
day of January, 1881, Mrs. I'lackwell was 
again married, this time to Frank Belfoy. 
Frank Belfoy was a lawyer by profession, 



and a native of Prescott, Province of Onta- 
rio, Canada, born November 1, 1827. lie 
came to Forest City in 1808 and there estab- 
lished the pioneer journal of Meeker county, 
The News, which he edited in connection 
with his legal practice. In 18t)0 he removed 
to Litchfield and in 1874 he sold the sub. 
scrijition books and goodwill of The Beios 
to Daggett & Joubert, who consolidated with 
Thie Ledger, and Mr. Belfoy devoted his sole 
attention to his profession. In 1876 Mr. 
Belfoy purchased an interest in the News- 
Ledger with Mr. Joubert, and assumed the 
greater share of the editorial labor, which he 
continued until July 10, 1881, when he was 
called to " that land elysian,- whose portals 
we call death." His widow is still a resident 
of the village of Litchfield. By her last 
union there was born one child, Frank, living 
at home with his surviving parent. 



-«•- 



i^^USTOF BERGQUIST, an energetic 
>^pr and thrifty Swedish farmer of CoUin- 
wood township, resides upon section 10, 
where he owns some eighty acres of land. 
His home is pleasantly located, and is sur- 
rounded by his excellent outbuildings. His 
stoolv, to which he gives considerable atten- 
tion, is of good strains, and the place evinces 
the prosperity and care of the proprietor. 
He was born in Sweden August 2, 1831. and 
is the son of John and Eva Katrina Mag- 
ason. He made liis home in his native land 
until he was about forty years of age, when, 
realizing the fact that it was almost impossi- 
ble in that section of the world for a man to 
achieve a competence, determined to seek in 
America a new home. Accordingly, in 1871, 
he sailed from tbei'e, and on lantling in the 
United States, went at once to Duluth, where 
he was emjiloved three years in a saw-mill. 
From there he removed to Tiiomson, this 
State, where he ran a latli mill in summer 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



369 



and worked in the pineries during tl:e winter, 
for two years. In 1870 he came to Collin- 
wood township, this county, where he pur- 
chased the farm where he now Hves, and set- 
tled down to nn agricultural life. lie has 
prospei'ed according to his merits since com- 
ing here, and I'iciily deserves the esteem and 
respect in wiiich he is held by the people of 
the community. He has held the olHce of 
town treasurer for some three or four years, 
and being a strict momljer of the Lutheran 
Church, has acted as deacon and treasui'er of 
that organization for some time. 

Mr. liergquist Avas married May 5, 1860, 
to Miss Anna Louisa Peterson, also a native 
of Sweden, and daugliter of Peter and Ka- 
trine Carlson. By this union there has 
been born a family of eight children, of whom 
the following is a record — Axel Edward was 
born December 25, 1801 ; John Siegfried was 
born November 2,180-4; Jennie Augusta's 
birth took place November 4, 1807 ; France 
Augustus was born March. 19, 1871, and died 
August 19, 1872 ; Anna Olize was born July 
1, 1S73, and died April 19, 1885; Walter 
Emanuel was born April 23, 1879 ; Carl Otto, 
born July 10, 1882; and Aiigust William was 
born March 24, 1885. Axel E. married Miss 
Hulda Swanson, and lives on section 15, Col- 
linwood ; and Jennie A., now Mrs. Theodore 
Premous, and is a resident of Dassel. 



l-'^- 



/^^LE JOHNSON RENOS, is a respected 
^^hiy «nd thrifty farmer of Acton town- 
ship. Meeker county, Minn. He is a son of 
John anil Betsy Renos, and was liorn in 
Norway in 1825. The grea,ter part of his 
life was spent in his native land, and he was 
married there, in October, 1860, to Miss Mary 
Gunderson. They came to the United States 
in 1872, and for two years after their arrival 
they lived in Minneapolis. At the expira- 
tion of that tijiie thev came to Acton town- 



ship and purchased 120 acres of railroad land 
on section 19, where they still live, and where 
they now have a comfortable home in which 
to sj^end their declining years. Mr. and Mrs. 
Eenos have but one child, a daughter, Betsy, 
who was born on the 27th of November, 
1805. 

Betsy Renos was married on the 13th of 
March, 1882, to John Jacob Oestadt, and 
they are living with her parents. They have 
been blessed with one child, Mina Helen, who 
was born on the 27th of November, 1885. The 
family are all members of the Norwegian 
Lutheran Church. 



IpEENRY Mc CANN. The subject of this 
JHL biographical sketch is a successful 
and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, who 
resides on section 9, Harvey township. He 
is a native of Lowell, Mass., and was born 
on the 1st of April, 1859. His parents, who 
Avere natives of Ireland, were Thomas and 
Alice (McLaughlin) McCann. 

On the 1st of May, 1867, quite a party of 
settlers left Lowell, Mass., bent upon finding 
homes in Minnesota, the McCann family 
being among the number. They finally 
arrived at Clearwater, and from there, with 
teams, they made their way across the 
country to Forest City. Thomas McCann, 
the father of our subject, located on section 
10, in Harvey township, where he remained 
for seven years, and then removed to Manan- 
nah township, where he still resides. 

Henry McCann remained at home until 
he had arrived at the age of cwenty-one 
years, when he began making^ his own way 
in the world. With the exception of one 
winter spent in the pineries, his home has 
been in Harvey township, constantly, since 
that time. He now has a valuable farm of 
120 acres, and a comfortable home. A good 
share of his place is under a high state of 



370 



MEEKER COUXTY, MINNESOTA. 



cultivation, and, in connection with his 
general fanning operations, he carries on 
stock-raising to a considerable extent. In 
political matters he votes the democratic 
ticket, and is regarded as one of the leading- 
citizens of tlie township in wiiicli he resides. 
Onr subject was married on tlie 24rth of 
Novemijer, 188-1-, to Miss Katie A. Mitcliell, 
and they have been the parents of two chil- 
dren, as follows — Miss Allice, born March 1, 
1886; and Harry, born Marcli 15, ISSS. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. McCann are devout and 
active members of the Catholic Church. 
The marriage of our subject and his lady 
took place at East Minneapolis, the cere- 
mony being jierformed by the Rev. Father 
O'Reillv, of St. Anthonv church. 



^^^^ 



>y^- 



McLANE. The subject of the 
I'ing biography is one of the 
finest representatives of a class of foreign- 
born citizens, who have brought the tlirift 
and energy, whicli was their only heritage 
in tlieir native land, to tliis country, witli its 
gTeat possibilities, and are accomplishing the 
best results in tlieir application under the 
influence of American institutions. 

Mr. McLane is a native of County Antrim, 
Ireland, born October 9, 1854, and is the sou 
of Patrick and ]\[arian ((^lose) McLane. He 
was reared in the Emerald Isle and remained 
in the land of his birth until 1879, when, with 
a natural wish to better his fortune, he crossed 
the stormy bosom of the Atlantic, landing at 
New York City. P'rom there he proceeded 
to Chicago, but, a few mouths later, in 1880, 
came to Litchfiekl and opened the wholesale 
and retail gi'ocerv stoi-e now under the ]iro- 
prietorsiiip of W. II. Dai-t, building the store 
building in the summer of 1881. He re- 
mained in this lino of trade until 1SS7, when, 
being desirous of a change in his business, he 
sold out to Mr. Dait, as he had the previous 



year entered into a copartnersliip Avith L. D. 
Crowe, in the agricultural implement busi- 
ness. Devoting his abundant energies to 
this line of trade Mr. McLane is ra])idly and 
surely acquii'ing a jirominent place among 
the business men of this section of the State, 
and has the warmest respect nnd esteem of 
his fellow-citizens. 



-«— : 



ETER J. LUND, one of the pioneers 
of Meeker county, and the first set- 
tler in Acton township, still has his resi- 
dence on the southeast quarter of section 4, 
where he first located in 1857. 

Mr. Lund is a native of Skone, Sweden, 
born October 2, 1821, and came to this coun- 
try in 1852. After short stays in Knoxville 
and Moline, 111., he located in Chisago 
county, this State, where he remained until 
coming here. During the Indian troubles he 
suffered much loss of property, the savages 
burning his houses, stealing his horses and 
running off his stock. He heard of the out- 
rage and left his liouse in a hurry with his 
family to Forest City, and leaving them in 
safety returned to his place with six or seven 
neighl)ors, foi' he had considerable provi- 
sions, etc., in his house, which he had accu- 
mulated to sell to such of his neighbors as 
needed tliem. They approached the house 
cautiously, seeing everj' where the evidences 
of the Indians having been about, and did 
not dare to light a candle or even a match. 
The house hail been broken open and Mr. 
Lund, entering, could see by the dim light 
that the drawers and trunks had been forced 
and their clothing stolen. He went up stairs 
and dropped two sacks of flour to the 
friends below, and, taking a trunk that was 
still intact, left. These depredations he lays 
to the Ilonu! (Guards, as the Indians had not 
been there }'et, but at the time he did not 
know it. After loading- these things on a 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



371 



sled, they got a yoke of the neighbors' oxen 
which they hitched to it, and drove out on 
the prairie, where the others had congre- 
gated with their teams. All being afi-aid, 
he volunteered to lead, but confesses that he 
lay pretty close to the sled and kept his 
eyes wide open for Indians. They got 
through safely to Forest City, although the 
savages shortly afterwards burned his house 
and destroyed all the property they could. 
During the attack on the stockade at Forest 
City, on the morning of the 4th of Septem- 
ber, Mr. Lund says that an opening existed 
in the line of fortification on the north side, 
and that while he and another man held 
poles and planks across the opening, Hamlet 
Stevens, now the banker at Litchfield, calmly 
nailed them fast, although the bullets were 
singing round their heads prettj^ freely, and 
also says that Mr. Stevens budt the first 
house in Grove City, while he boarded with 
Mr. Lund. 

Mr. Lund has now a fine farm of 350 acres 
of land, although he was a poor man when 
he came here. He was married, in May, 
1850, in Sweden, to Miss Ellen ISTelson, who 
is the mother of seven children — Anna, 
deceased ; Ingi'a, Sarah, Joanna, Amy, and 
Nels, deceased. 



-^^ 



puis MARTENSON, a respected farm- 
|&^ er, residing on section 25, Litchfield 
township, is a son of Marten and Pernella 
Larsen, and was born in Sweden on the <)th 
of September, 18i4. lie lived with liis 
parents in the old country until 1872, when 
he came to the United States with Peter 
Martenson and Peter Olson, and the party 
settled in Meeker county, Minn. 

In 1879 Louis Martenson was married to 
Anna Johnson. She was born in Sweden. 
Feljruary 10, 1859, and came to America 
with her parents, Jonas and Lovisa Johnson, 



in 1869. Her father died in 1870, and her 
mother lives with Louis and his wife. Four 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Martenson, as follows-^Emma Lovise, born 
May 28, 1880; Axel Albert, born October 
15, 1882 ; Oscar Louander, born February 
14, 1885 ; and Marten Edward, born August 
14, 1887. Mr. Martenson devotes his entire 
time to farming and stock-raising and is very 
successful. His good management, economy 
and enterprise have not been without their 
reward, and he is now in comfortable circum- 
stances and has a pleasant home. He has 
also met with some serious reverses in the 
way of loss of crops. In 1887 his crops were 
almost wholly destroyed by the terrific hail- 
storm which swept over this portion of the 
county. 

EV. HUGH McDEVlTT, resident priest 
J^V, of the Catholic Church at Manannah, 
is a native of County Donegal, Ireland, born 
on the 3d of Februar3', 1843, and is the son 
of Winifrede O'Flaherty and William 
McDevitt. He received his education in the 
Missionary College of All Hallows, Dublin ; 
promoted to the order of priesthood on the 
27th of June, 1865, and served for some years 
as a missionary in the diocese of Sydney, N. 
S. W. Returning to Ireland, with the per- 
mission of his superiors he came to America, 
and became affiliated with the Diocese of St. 
Paul many years ago. He is now under the 
jurisdiction of Bishop Ireland. Prior to 
his coming to Manannah, he served in the 
missions of Chatfield, Pine Island and Bell 
Creek, with excellent results. On the re- 
moval of Father King to St. Stephen's 
church, he was requested by the bishop to 
succeed Father King, and came to Litchfield 
on the 1st of May, 1885. Manannah was 
then united to Litchfield, services being held 
every alternate Sunday. Seeing the neces- 




372 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIXNESOTA. 



sitj'^ of Manannah having a resident priest, 
lie mentioned tiie matter to tlie bisliop, who 
gave liiin every encouragement in his under- 
taking, lie immediately' began the erection 
of the pastoral residence, at a cost of $2,000. 
The congregation was rejoiced that a jiriest 
was to reside with tliem ; all subscribed 
nobly, and cooperated with their priest in 
2>roviding every requisite, lie is a priest 
strict in all church matters, kind, but firm in 
what he considers his duty botii to churcli and 
people. We wish him God-speed in all his 
undertakings and best endeavors for the wel- 
fare and good of his congregation, and to cul- 
tivate the ]>oi'tion of his Master's vineyard 
entrusted to his care with Heaven's choicest 
flowers. 



-.^> 



JOHN W. KNIGHT, dealer in tubular 
well machinery, wood pumps, rubber 
goods and engine extras, and one of the pi'om- 
inent businessmen of Litchfield, is an old set- 
tler in Meeker county. Mr. Knight is a native 
of Burrilville, E. I., born on the IStli of 
August, 1841. His parents were William 
and Abigail (Olney) Knight, both natives of 
Massachusetts, Avliose forefathers on both 
sides were among the first settlers of that 
region, and the mother's brother, Wilson 
Olney, was an Indian iigent in Massachu- 
setts many years ago. 

The subject of this sketch was one of a 
family of six children, as follows — William 
Henry, of Swanzey, N. II., where he has 
been steadily employed in a bucket factory 
for thirty years; Abigail, now Mrs. C. C. Car- 
penter, of Graceville, Minn.; John W. ; Liz- 
zie G., now Mrs. Fitch, of Swanzey, N. H.; 
Mary, now Mrs. White, of Keene, N. II.; 
Dutte S., of Hinsdale, JS". H., an overseer 
in a large blanket factory; and Ilattie N., 
now a Mrs. White, of Keene, N. H. 

John W. Knight remained with his iinreiits 



working on a farm and attending school when 
opportunity ortVred until he was eighteen 
years of age, when he purchased his "time" 
of his father and began life on his own 
account. He worked in factories and at 
whatever he found profitable until Marcii 3, 
1861, when he enlisted in Company K, Sec- 
ond New Hampshire Infantry for three years 
service. He was mustered in at Concord, 
N. H., on the ith of April and his regiment 
was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. 
The first actual service was at the siege of 
Yoi-ktown, Va., under Gen. G. B. McClellan. 
From there they went to AVilliamsburg with 
tlie division under General Hooker, and there 
Mr. Knight was seriously wounded l)y the 
concussion of a shell ; a comrade to his right 
having his head taken off, and one to his left 
having a leg amputated by the same shell. 
J\Ir. Knight was taken to the Williamsburg 
hospital and a shoi't time later to the York- 
town hospital, and there remained until the 
latter place was evacuated. He was finally 
mustered out and discharged for disability 
July 31, 1803, at Concord, N. H. 

On the 27th of August, 1863, he was mar- 
ried by Rev. S. S. Dudley to JVIiss Abbie P. 
Fletcher, a native of Acwortii, N. II., born 
March 18, 1845. A short time later they 
went to Winchendon, Mass., where Mr. 
Knight was engaged in the sewing machine 
factory of Goodspeed'ct Weyman, for about 
one yeai", when he went to ilarlborough, 
N. II. A short time later lie went to Bellows 
Falls, A"t., and remained thereuntil May, 1866, 
when he came to Meeker county, Minn. He 
selected a homestead on section 28, in For- 
est City township, and commenced improv- 
ing his land, erecting the kind of a cabin 
customary with the early settlers. His fam- 
ily arrived in October of the same year. 
Mr. Knight remained on his farm for seven 
3'ears, when he sold out and removed to 
Litchfield, where for a year he followed car- 
iientering and draying. In 1873 he went 



A".- 










.^^^^..^ .^.^^ 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



375 



into the puni|) business which he has followed 
constantly since. In 1886, in company with 
his son, Wilmer W., lie opened a shop in 
Paynesville, Stearns county, which his son 
now conducts. Mr. and ^Irs. Knight are the 
parents of five living children — Wilmer W., 
born in New Hampshire, November 28, 1864, 
now in Paynesville, Minn. ; Alnion E. luid 
Ahnina E., born in Forest City, April 21, 
1869 ; Elsie V., born in Forest City, October 
23, 1873 ; Ernest A., died at the age of four- 
teen months ; and Inez O., born at Litch- 
field, May 31, 1879. Tiie family are mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. 



-«- 



I^DAM BROWER, an enterprising and 
pi'ogressive farmer of Kingston town- 
ship, living on section 16, is a native of Jen- 
nings county, Tnd., born June 29, 1840. and 
is the son of Adam and Jeannette (McMur- 
chey) Brower. His father, wlio was the son 
of Peter Brower, a native of Holland, wlio 
had settled in this country some time liefore, 
was born in Gloucester county, N. J., K\m\ 
13, 1S02, and moved with his parents to 
Clareiiiont county, Ohio, in 1816, where he 
was married October 12, 1824, and there car- 
ried on lirickmaking and farming. He was 
one of the representative men of that portion 
of the State, and on moving, in 1838, to Jen- 
nings county, Ind., carried his popularity 
with him. He was soon elected to the magis- 
trate's bench, upon which he served some 
thirteen years, and his decisions were such 
that bnt one was ever ajipealed from. 

" Ripe in wisdom was he, but patient and 
simple and childlike." He connected him- 
self with the Methodist Chnrch in 1825, and 
was licensed to preach in 1845. His voice 
was ever heard against slavery and intem- 
perance, and his walk and conversation were 
in consonance with his teaching. He is still 
living in his Indiana home, having raised a 



family of thirteen children, of whom the fol- 
lowing is the record — James, moved to Hai'ri- 
son county, Mo., in 1853, and represented 
his district twice in the legislature; Sarah, 
living in Rush county, Ind.; Alineda, whose 
home is still in Jennings county; George 
and Adam, living in Minnesota; Margaret, 
in Jefferson county, Ind.; Jennette, in Marion 
count}'; Lemuel, in Hendricks county; and 
John. The latter, a brave and gallant sol- 
dier, died of starvation and exposure in one 
of the loathsome prison pens of the rebels 
during the late war. 

The subject of this sketch enlisted, also, in 
April, 1861, in the Sixth Indiana Infantry, 
and, after serving his three months with that 
regiment, re-enlisted, September 14, in Com- 
pany H, Twenty Seventh Indiana Infantry, 
and with that famous liand of heroes partici- 
pated in many of tiie l)loodiest battles of the 
war, among Avhicli were Winchester, Chan- 
cellorsville, Gettysburg, in the east, and, after 
they were transferred to the Cumberland, 
Resaca and Altoona. He was wounded in 
the latter confiict, and was laid up in the 
hospital for a few weeks. He was mustered 
out, at Indianapolis, Septemlier 14, 1S65. He 
was taken prisoner by the rebels at the bat- 
tle of Winchester, May 25, 1862, and kept 
by them until September 20th, following, 
when he was exchanged and resumed duty. 

In February', 1867, our subject came to 
Meeker county, and purchased the place 
where he now lives. For the first three 
years of his residence here he was engaged 
in brickmaking in the village, but at the 
expiration of that time took up farming. 
Two seasons since that he has been in the 
same business, and a part of the time in the 
sawmill at Dassel. 

j\[r. Brower was married, October 4, 1869, 
to Miss Flora E. DeCoster, a native of Mas- 
sachusetts, and daughter of Albert DeCoster, 
of Massachusetts. By this union there have 
been born f(jur children, namelv — Adam M.. 



376 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



■whose birtli took place August 3, 1870; 
Claude D., born Septeinber 28, 1871; Daisy, 
born December 12, 1874; and Frederick G., 
born Januar}"^ 6, 1883. 

Mr. Brower is a rei)ublican in politics, and 
is the clerk of the school district in which he 
lives. 



'OHN RALSTON, one of the most suc- 
cessful, prominent and leading farmers 
jind stock-raisers in Meeker county, is a resi- 
dent of section 25, Harvey township. He 
was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, 
of Scotch parents, on the 2d of March, 1837, 
and his early days were spent in his native 
Province, where he received the education 
afforded by the facilities of those daj'S and 
he received the same training as to industry 
and frugality that is characteristic of the 
people of that nationalit3\ 

In March, 1858, he came to Meeker county, 
Minn., and spent one month in wliat is now 
Harvey townshi|). At the expiration of that 
time he went to Minneapolis and spent the 
summer, returning to Meeker county in the 
winter, working at stone masonry most of 
the time during this period. Five years later 
he again returned to Minneapolis, where he 
remained three years, and since that time he 
has made his home in Harvey township. He 
has one of the most valuable and best im- 
proved farms in the county, and his success- 
ful and able business management is abund- 
antly evidenced by his present standing, as 
he is rated as one of the most solid and sul)- 
stantial citizens in the nortiiern pait of 
Meeker county. He carries on diversitietl 
fanning, together with stock-raising, exten- 
sivelv, and his i)lace is well arranged for his 
work. 

Mr. Kalston was married, on March 18, 
1869, to Miss Sarah L. Wilkinson, of the 
Province of Quebec, and they have been 
parents of two children — John E., deceased. 



and Jane E., who is still at home. The 
family are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. Ralston does not take an ac- 
tive ])art in political matters, at least so far 
, as oiKco seeking is concerned, and in those 
matters he does not follow tiie arbitrary dic- 
tation of party, but acts in an independent 
ma/imer. 



M 



ONORABLE LOUIS RUDBERG, one 



of Dassel's respected and honored 
deceased citizens, who was identified with its 
early development, was a native of Sweden, 
and came to Meeker county in 1866 and took 
a homestead. He was at that time a 
young unmarried man, and did not remain 
upon the farms steadih% but when the St. 
Paul & Pacific Railroad was being built 
through the county in 1869, he entered their 
employ as carpenter, he having learned that 
trade. He remained with them until 1872, 
at which date he came to Dassel village and 
entered into the mercantile business, and 
remained in that line until his death, which 
occurred in January, 18S4. While a resident 
here, in 1876, he was elected a member of 
the Minnesota State Legislature, and served 
one term with credit. 



PETER PETERSON, a farmer of Acton 
township, belongs to a family that 
has a number of representatives scattered 
through the Northwest. A sister is now Mre. 
Laurits Frogner, of Atwater; one of his 
brothers, Frederick Peterson, also lives in 
Atwater, where he works in an elevator; 
and another bi'other, Xels, is inspector in on 
elevator at Fisher's Landing, Dak. 

Peter Peterson, the subject of this biogru- 
ph\', was born in Denmark on the 21st of 
August, 1839, and is a son of Peter and Anna 
Peterson. He came to the United States in 
1873, and at once settled in Acton township, "* 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



377 



Meeker county, Minn. He then purchased 
•eighty acres on section 31, but has since 
bought an acklitional eiglity, so that his farm 
now consists of 160 acres, a large share of 
which is under a higli state of cultivation. 
His place is improved with substantial and 
■comfortable farm buildings, and he has it 
well stocked with iiorses and cattle. In ad- 
•dition to his farming operations he has a feed 
mill on his place, which he operates for the 
•convenience of himself and neighboi's. 

Mr. Peterson was married, in 1863, to Anna, 
.a daughter of Peter and Anna Christina 
Peterson. The following is a record of the 
births and deaths of the children that have 
been born to them — Mary, born December 
:21, 1863, died June 15, 1866 ; Mary Christina, 
born September 6, 1866, died in June, 1871 ; 
Peter, born August 1, 1868, died in October, 
1869 ; Kasmus, born November 16, 1872, died 
in May, 187-1; Mary, born August 10, 1875, 
•died in August 1878; Anna P., born Decem- 
ber 16, 1876 ; Marius, born January 27, 1878, 
'died in August, 1878 ; Peter and Gogen 
(twins), born March 11, 1881, both died early 
in 1B82. The family are members of the 
Norwegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Peterson 
is a repuljlican in political matters, and has 
taken an active interest in all matters wliich 
.affect the township's welfare. It is well 
worthy of notice in this connection that Mr. 
Peterson is an old soldier, having served ten 
anonths in tiie resular army before leavinjr 
Denmark. 



,/H:SALE KITTLESON, a proininont old set- 
X^li/ tier who resides on section 31, Litch- 
field township, is a native of Norway, born 
in 184:4, and a son of Kittle and Carrie Har- 
oldson. In 1846 he came to the United 
States with his parents and they settled in 
Kock county. Wis., where they remained 
.until 1857, and then removed to Meeker 



county, Minn., and the family settled on sec- 
tion 30, Litchfield township. Ole Kittleson 
was only a bo}' of eighteen years of age at 
the time the outbreak of tlie Indians be- 
gan, but the duties of a man devolved upon 
him. He assisted in the burial of the first 
five victims, and was one of the pursuing 
party that chased the retlskins who came 
upon the ground while the inquest was being 
held. When the danger seemed to have 
passed, he and his father and Ijrothers re- 
turned to their unfinished harvesting, but 
the news of the bloody massacres and mur- 
ders that followed, drove them to Forest City 
for refuge. The family spent the following 
winter of 1S62-63, on the old Gitchell place, 
near Kingston, but Ole stayed a portion of 
the time on the oltl claim, sleeping in the 
house alone. In' 1 863 they gathered together 
what stock there was left and did a little 
farming. 

Ole Kittleson tinuily purchased a farm ad- 
joining that of his father's and went to farm- 
ino' on his own account. He has been very 
successful and now has a valuable farm, upon 
which he devotes his time, carrying on diver- 
sified farminjy and stock-raisins'. In 1869 he 
was married to Sarah Ilalverson Ness, a 
daughter of Ole Ilalverson Ness. Their 
marriage has been blessed with eight children, 
seven of whom are living — Carrie, Christian, 
Olavus, Mary, Henry, George and Iila. At 
the time of the grasshopper i)lagne in 1S77, 
•Mr. Kittleson lost about all his crops, hav- 
ing sown seventy bushels antl only raised 
five. 

Mr. Kittleson lias taken an active interest 
in all matters affecting the Avelfare of his 
township, and is justly regarded as one of 
the solid and substantial citizens of the 
county. He has held various township offices 
and has been school director of his district 
for over twenty years. The family are 
members of the Ness Norwegian Lutheran 
Church. 



378 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



^^^TENDERSON M. ANGIER, of Litch- 
-At'o- lielil, is a native of Clieiiango county, 
N. Y., born October 24, 1835, and is the son 
of Roland and IVfary (AFarsh) Angler. Both 
of his parents were natives of Massachusetts 
who had come to tiie Empire State in youth, 
and were marrietl there. Shortly after the 
birth of 11. M. the couple removed to Porter 
county, Ind., where they resided until 1859, 
wiien they came to Meeker county, and set- 
tled in (Treenieaf township, where they died, 
the father in 1867, the mother in 1873. 

Henderson M. remained with his parents 
until August, 1855, when he was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary J. Crosby, a 
native of Schenectady count\', N. Y., and 
the young people remained in Indiana until 
the spring of 1850, when they came to 
Meeker county, ari'iving here June 19th, of 
that year. The next year they settletl upon 
section 10, Greenleaf, on which the}' lived 
until June, 1862, when they removed to 
Litchfield township, Mr. Angier taking up a 
homestead on section 12, and commencing to 
get out the timber foi' a house, when his 
operations were interrujited by the Indian 
outbreak. The night before that event he 
was at Forest City, attending a war meeting, 
but, on hearing the news, decided to remain 
and help defend this portion of the country 
against the savages, and accordingh' went 
to Forest City and took charge of the crew 
who were ffettini:' out the timbers for the 
stockade. He was on many of the expedi- 
tions, which issuetl forth from that place to 
look up the missing and bury the dead set- 
tlers, and did valiant service at the fort 
during the night of the attack on Forest 
City. lie was one of the volunteers who 
went out to rescue the party in the old house 
in the timber, and collect the loose stock the 
next morning, and stood next to Olson when 
the latter was wounded, and helped assist 
him and William Branham, who was also 
wounded, back to the stockade. 



Mr. Angler remained in' Forest City until 
the spring of 18»J3, when he went to Illinois 
for his family, whither he had sent them for 
safety, and I'eturned to Forest City in 1865, 
sto))])ing for some time in Clearwater on his 
return. In 1866 he returned to his farm 
and liiiished building his house, begun four 
years before. There he remained until 1873, 
when he removed to Union Grove, but one 
year later removed to the village of Litch- 
field, where he now lives. In the spring of 
1878 he was elected city marshal, and has 
held that office and that of deputy sheriff, 
ever since. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity anil of the A. O. U. W., and was the 
Grand Representative to the State lodge of 
the latter for two 3'ears. He is also an 
active temperance man and worker. 



SARL JOHN GOTTFRIED HANSON,, 
is an enterprising farmer who is 
located on section 26, in Litchfield town- 
ship. He is a son of Bengt and Elna Han- 
son, and was born in the city of Hamburg, 
Germany, while the family were en route 
from Sweden to the United States, and is a 
twin brother of Nels C. G. Hanson, a mer- 
chant in Litchfield. His father, Bengt Han- 
son, is one of the most prosperous fanners In 
this part of the county, and noticed at length 
elsewhere in this volume. Carl was reared 
on his father's farm, receiving good educa- 
tional advantages in the Litclifiehl schools. 
During the summer of 1886 he erected a 
house on that portion of the original Hanson 
farm located on sections 26 and 27, and 
embarked in the business of farming on his- 
own account. On the Ith of Novend)er of 
the same year, he was united in marriage 
with Emma C. Lindberg. She Is a daughter 
of Hans and Carrie Lindberg, and was born 
in Sweden October 31, 1867. They have 
one child — Lily — a bright little babe, which 
was born to them on the 29th of July, 1887- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



379 



Mr. Hanson attends closely to his business 
of fanning and stock raising, and justly 
ranks as one of the most substantial young 
farmers of the county. He is a member of 
Golden Fleece Lodge No. 89, A. F. & A. 
M., of Litchfield. 



JAMES H. McKENNEY, one of the ac- 
tive, enterprising l)usiness men of the 
village of Dassel, is a native of Limerick, 
York county. Me., born March 26, 1843, 
and is the son of He4iry and Nancy (Jack) 
McKinney, l)otli of whom, as well as tiie 
gramljiarents of our subject, were natives of 
the same State. 

When the subject of this memoir was some 
ten years of age the angel of death invaded 
the household and bore away the loving 
mother, and the family circle was bi'oken. 
Young McKenney remained in his native 
town until his nineteenth 3'ear, receiving the 
elements of a good education, finishing the 
last three years at the academy, and laying 
the broad foundation upon which he has 
built his present fortune, and in 1862 re- 
moved to Charleston, Mass., where he was 
engaged as clerk in a wholesale and retail 
grocery store. On the 29th of September, 
1865, he left that city by the sea for Minne- 
sota, and for the next year or more, followed 
teaching at Anoka. \\\ the spring of 1867 
he removed to Anderson, Ind., at which point 
he entered into the saw-mill and lumber busi- 
ness and continued in that line until 1874, 
when the mill was burned down, involving a 
loss to him of some i?7,000. The next spring- 
he returned to Anoka and taught the same 
school which he had taught in 1865. He re- 
mained in that ])lace until 1877, when he re- 
moved to Wright county, and one year later 
to Meeker county. He was engaged in school 
teaching near Spring Lake and at Beaver 



Dam until the fall of 1878, when he came to 
Dassel, and for two years filled the position 
of principal of the village schools. Li the 
fall of 1880, Mr. McKenney bought an inter- 
est in the Dassel elevatoi", and took charge of 
the business, and since that time, hasacquired 
by purchase almost all the shares in the same, 
and now has full control of it. The elevator 
has a capacity of 45,000 bushels, and his 
business reached the shipment of 65,000 
bushels of wheat dui-ing the year 1887. 

Mr. McKenney was united in marriage, in 
Anderson, Ind., December 26, 1868, with 
Miss Lydia J. Isley, who died December 17, 
1870, leaving one child, which died in infancy 
December 25, 1881. Mr. McKenney again 
entered the married state, wedding Miss 
Emma E. Wolsey, a native of Stockbridge, 
Wis., who has become the mother of two 
children — Henry B., and Gertrude A. 



-«-! 



"T|lnUKE D. CROWE, the junior partner in 
llM^^ the firm of McLane & Crowe, agricul- 
tural implement dealers, Litchfield, is a fair 
specimen of the representative class of citi- 
zens of Meeker county, who, by their native 
ability, are fast taking rank among the best 
business men of this section of the State. 

He is a native of County Gal way, Ireland, 
born in 1853, and is the son of George J. and 
Jane Crowe, with whom he came to Meeker 
county in 1870. His father purchased a 
farm in the town of Litchfield, and settled 
down to the quiet pursuits of agriculture. 
Luke D., whose home training was under the 
tender influences of his mother's cai'e, grew 
to manhood and helped his father in the man- 
ifold cares devolving upon the industrious 
farmer, until he attained the age of twenty- 
five years. About that time our subject re- 
moved to Traverse county, Minn., where he 
filed a homestead and tree claim, and 
made his residence there for six years. Ee- 



38o 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



turning to his home, u])on the farm of his 
father, in this county, lie remained one sea- 
son, anti in 1880 came to tlie city of Litch- 
field, and, in company with Daniel McLane, 
opened a warehouse for the sale of agricul- 
tural im])lements, and is now in the full tide 
of the success that invariably awaits honest 
and unremitting attention to business and 
straightforward dealing. 



,ARS P. SORENSON, one of the most 



successful and enterprising stock-raisers 
anil general farmers in Meeker county, re- 
sides on section 17, Danielson township, 
where he located in 18T<'>. He is a son of 
Soren and Mary Christianson, and was born 
in Denmark on the 1st of May, 1852. His 
eai'ly life was one of toil and hardship, as he 
has relied upon his own exertions ever since 
he arrived at the age of fourteen years. As 
he grew to manhootl he spent three years in 
the regular army of Denmark. His parents 
Averc also natives of Denmark, who remained 
in the land of their birth until their deaths. 
In 1876, Lars P., in company with his brother 
John, came to the United States, and made 
his way directly to Meeker county, Minn., 
and together they purchased 240 acres on 
section 17, in Danielson townsliip. He has 
since purchased his brother's interest. He 
has erected farm buildings which are a credit 
to the township, and plainly evidence his 
thrift and enterprise. He has a substantial 
story-and-a-half house, 18x24- feet in size, 
with an addition 10x18 feet, and his barn is 
32x72 feet in dimensions with t went \'-foot 
posts, besides which he has a good granary, 
machinery sheds and other farm buildings. 
He devotes his time to diversified farming, 
and in company Avith A. ISTelson, is raising 
pure-bred Holstein cattle. Mr. Sorenson has 
taken an interest in the affairs of his town- 
ship, and has held the office of township 
treasurer for two years. 



In 1879, Mr. Sorenson was married to Miss- 
Johanna Dotha Jacobson, and their union 
has been blessed Avith three children — Soren 
Christen, born June 3, 1880; Andrew, born 
April 12, 1882; and l^fartin Jorgen, born 
April 13, 1888. Mrs. Sorenson is a daughter 
of Andrew and Sarah Jacobson. She Avas. 
born on the 19th of Decembei-, 1852, and 
came to the United States with her parents, 
in July, 1872. 



lis) ALPH D. GRINDALL, one of the 
'JfcJV most successful and prominent stock 
raisers and general farmers in the southern 
portion of Meeker county, is a resident of 
section 8, Cedar Mills toAA^nship. He is a 
native of Hancock county. Me., and Avas 
born on the 20th of November, 1827. His. 
parents were Elijah W. and Caroline B_ 
(Iliggins) Grindall, both of whom Avere 
natives of Maine. His grandfather, on his 
father's side, Avas a native of the Isle of 
Wight, Avho settled at the town of Penob- 
scot at an early day ; and when the English 
came to build their forts at Castine, he Avas 
pressed into the English service, and Avorked 
upon the fort during the summer of 1812' 
receiving compensation at the rate of eight 
cents per day. Kalph's grandfather Hig- 
gins, Avas a nati\'e of Nova Scotia, Avho at 
an early day settled on Bartlett's Island, 
Avhere the mother of our subject, Caroline- 
B. Iliggins, Avas born February 21, 1806. 

Elijah W. Grindall, the father of our sub- 
ject, Avas born Sept. 2, 1804. He married 
Miss Iliggins on the 4th of January, 1827, 
and remained in his native State — Maine — 
until 1854, Avhen became to Minnesota, and 
opened up a farm near St. Anthony. He 
remained there until the time of his death^ 
June 28, 1872, and his Avidow still resides in 
Minnea])olis. 

Tla]i)h D. Grindall remained Avith his 
parents until he Avas nineteen years of age,. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



381 



and then bought "liis time"' of his father, 
and for the two yeai's immediately follow- 
ing he was em])loyed at whatever he could 
find to do, a portion of the time working for 
his father. lie then followed teaming and 
in 1851 had the misfortune to lose by fire 
five horses, wagons, harness, etc. In August, 
1852, he was married to Miss Sophrona L. 
Howard, a native of Maine. Mr. Grindall 
remained at Bangor, in his native State, 
until 1854, Avhen he went to Kansas and 
spent a few months, helping to erect the first 
mill that was built on the present site of 
Lawrence. In the fall of the same 3'ear he 
came to St. Anthony, Minn., but only stayed 
a short time and then went to Chicago 
where, daring the following winter (1854-55) 
he had general charge of transfer work and 
collecting bills for the Michigan Southern 
& Northern Indiana Railroad. In the spring 
of 1855 he engaged in farming near Du- 
buque, Iowa, and the following fall again 
came to St. Anthony, Minn. He put up the 
first slaughter house in Minneapolis for 
Allan Hammond, after which he followed 
butchering at Fort Snelling for Pettijohn & 
Steele. In the spring 0% 1856 he engaged in 
the same business at St. Anthony and 
remained there until the spring of 1861. In 
1856 he had purchased forty acres of land 
near Minneapolis. [It is now in the heart 
of the city.] In the spring of 1861 he put 
in a crop on this land, and then went to work 
with a government surveying party in the 
western part of the State, running township 
lines, and remained at this work until the 
following fall. He then returned to St. An- 
thony, and on the 6th of May, 1862, he had 
the misfortune to lose his house by fire, and 
with it the accumulations of ten years' hard 
labor. He built another house during the 
summer and also carried on his farm. When 
the Indian outbreak occurred in August, 
1862, he enlisted in Northup's Cavalry, and 
spent some time at Fort Ridgely, and then 



he returned to St. Anthony and engaged 
in farming. During the winter of 1867-68- 
he followed teaming. from ilinneapolis to 
Meeker county, making nine trips, and 
during the following winter he followed the 
same business from Greenleaf to Clearwater 
and from Hutchinson to Carver. In the 
spring of 1868 Mr. Grindall came to his. 
present farm in Cedar Mills township, hav- 
ing purchased 360 acres of his farm in 1862, 
and commenced to imjirove it. He has met 
with some reverses, especially during 1876 
and 1877 when his crops were destroyed by 
the grasshoppers. Upon the whole, however, 
he has been very successful in his fanning 
operations. He has a splendid farm of 440 
acres of land and carries on general farming 
and stock-raising, devoting especial attention 
to breeding thorough-bred Short-horn stock. 
Among the fine animals which Mr. Grindall 
has recently added to his herd are the fol- 
loAving : " Roan Duchess of Oxford 8th," 
from one of the oldest tribes on record ; 
" Oxford Wild Eyes 2d," another animal' of 
pure breeding ; and a Short-horn bull, "Duke 
of Minneapolis." All of these magnificent 
animals are registered, pure bred and have 
splendid jiedigrees. 

Since his settlement here Mr. Grindall has 
taken an active interest in public affairs and 
figures prominently in the official history of 
the township. He has held about all the 
various township offices and is now township 
treasurer. He has taken a prominent part 
in educational matters and aided in securing 
the erection of the first school-house in the 
township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Grindall are the parents of 
six living children, as follows — AVilbur F., 
born May 16, 1858 ; Emma M., born May 7, 
1860 ; Fanny G., born September 19, 1862 ; 
Mortimer C, born January 29, 1865 ; Edwin 
W., born October 29, 1867; and Eva C, 
born August 16, 1869. The three following 

deceased — George 



named children are 



382 



'^MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Edwiird, l)orn Octot)ef 8, 1853 ; Louisa, horn 
May 4, 185(5 ; and Ernest li., l)orn Septeiu- 
ber'lO, 1862. 

We take jjleasure in presenting a portrait 
of Ml'. Grindall in another department of 
this volume. 



^■^-, 



^«<*. 



|[gg) OY M. CASE, one of the young and 
'JPIV- enterprising agricuiturists of Col- 
liiuvood towiishi]), maizes his home upon his 
farm on section -11. He is a native of Wau- 
pun. Dodge county, "Wis., born March 25, 
1853, and is the son of Royal T. and Almira 
F. (Batcheller) Case, natives of the State of 
Yermont. Ilis father was a farmer and upon 
the farm our subject was reared. When he 
was about eight years old his parents re- 
moved to tJiis State and located at Plain- 
view, where they purchased a farm, and 
there made their home until the spring of 
1869. During that year they moved to the 
neighborhood of Hixtchinson, where they 
lived until coming to this county in 1873. 
They settled in Collinwood on section 27, 
where the mother died October 29, 1877, 
and the father February U, 1886. 

The subject of our sketch was an inmate of 
his father's house until his marriage with 
Miss Catherine Ann Grant, on October 17, 
1882. The lady is the daughter of James 
and Rebecca Grant, and was born in Jen- 
nings county, Ind., December 18, 1862, 
and is a most accomplished musician, as are 
most of the family. "When Mr. Case was mar- 
ried he had but little of this world's goods, but 
purchasing a farm of fifty acres upon section 
21, on time, and by diligence and industry 
has reclaimetl it from its original state of 
wildness and cleared it of debt. He is a 
finished musician, and has traveled, giving 
lessons and selling instruments. His estima- 
l)le wife has largely contributed toward 
their success in life by her industry and 
economv. 



^^[ONORABLE O. M. LINNELL, of Ac- 
J!?^'jL ton township, is one of the most 
prominent citizens of Meeker county. He 
was born near Wexio, in Sweden, on the 
21st of April, 1810, and is a son of Magnus 
Jonason and Lisa C. (Falk) Linnell. With 
his parents he came to the United States in 
1852, and they settled on Lake Chisago, in 
Chisago county, Minn., the same year. O. 
M. Linnell, being the oldest in the family, 
had to woi'k veiy hard in the summer time 
to help his father clear off a farm in the 
heavy timber and had to work out for oth- 
ers to earn money for clothing. Most of the 
year 1857 was put in at and around the city 
of Superior, Wis., when the noted hard times 
in Minnesota set in, of 1857, 1858 and 1859, 
when it was next to an impossibility to get 
a dollar in money. The av inter of 1859 and 
1 860 our subject spent near St. Joe, La., cut- 
ting cord wood, where money was paid for 
labor. He was thei'e offered the charge of 
a cordwood landing, with three large wood 
Inirges and twelve negroes, but could not 
stand it to hear the abuse of the Southerners 
toward the Northern men, nor see the abuse 
of the slaves ; so in A]iril he went back to 
his liome in Minnesota, where he remained 
with his parents part of the time, and to 
earn money for the family worked on the St. 
Croix river during the summers, on the logs, 
driving, or on the booms. In August, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Minne- 
sota Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered 
in at Fort Snelling, just at the time the Sioux 
Indians' noted massacre broke out in the 
town of Acton, where Mr. Linnell now lives. 
Company C, of the Seventh jMinnesota Infan- 
try, was sent on foot, marching to Fort Rip- 
ley without having time to wait for uni- 
forms. They received bright, shining Spring- 
field rifles, but not a single cartridge. It 
looked, as the boys used to ex])ress it, " kind 
of funny to meet the savage Indians without 
powder or lead, meeting citizens Ijy the linn- 




'^<7^^Z.C^t!^ 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



385 



clreds fleeing from their homes for their lives." 
From Foi't Eipley the company was ordereJ 
to the Ciiippewa Agenw to guard the gov- 
ernment stores. Tiiere they were soon sur- 
rounded by 500 Indian warriors, and as the 
company had only a few rounds of ammuni- 
tion the position for a time was a dangerous 
one. Tliey were kept in this shape for four 
days, when the Indians learned that the 
Sioux were defeated at Wood Lake, and 
were then very glad to make a treaty. Had 
the Indians known the condition of the sol- 
diers and made an attack, Company C would 
have been annihilated. After the treaty 
was perfected the company was sent back to 
Eipley, where tliey built large barracks, and 
with other com])anies expected to camp over 
winter, but in the latter part of Xovember 
they received orders to report at Fort Snell- 
ing, to go South. The compan}'^ got a few 
daj's' furlough to go home to visit friends, 
and during this time the governor of Minne- 
sota got permission to keep what soldiers 
were in the State for fear of a new out- 
break of the Indians in the spring, and Com- 
pany C was sent to IMankato to guard the 
Indian ])risoners. This company afterward 
carried out the linal execution of the thirty- 
eight Indians who were hanged there. The 
last military duty Mr. Linnell did was on 
December 17, 1S62, wlien he was detailed to 
help ferry the government teams across the 
Minnesota Kiver, and was taken sick with a 
disease of tlie lungs. He Avas under the doc- 
tor's cai'e for eleven months. He has nevei 
fully recovered from tliis sickness. He was 
honorably discharged from the service for 
disability, at Fort Snelling, on the ith ol 
August, 1863, and returned to his home, and 
from 186-1: to 1876 was farming, lumbering 
and dealing in rafting materials. In 1876 
he came to Meeker and settled in Acton 
township, where he now lives. He now has 
a good farm of 520 acres of land, with excel- 
lent macliinerv and a good stock of liorses 



and cattle. All of his property has been 
accumulated since liis army service. 

Mr. Linnell has taken an active and prom- 
inent part in public matters ever since he 
attained his manliood, and he has held some 
town or county otlice each year since he has 
been old enougii, with tlie cxce])tion of the 
first year in Meeker count}'. Since coming 
here he has held the offices of county com- 
missioner, school treasurer for nine j'ears, 
and is at the present time. He is the present 
town clerk. In 1880 he was elected to rep- 
resent this district in the legislature, and was 
re-elected in 1882. The sessions in which he 
served were three of the most important ever 
held in the history of the State, particulai'ly 
in settling at fifty cents on the dollar the 
"Eight-Million-Dollar State Ptailroad Bonds," 
whicli had been a stain on the glorious ban- 
ner of our North Star State. Mr. Linnell had 
always advocated a settlement of the bonds 
to redeem the honor of the State. In 1883 
he was chairman of the standing committee 
of agriculture and manufactures, and, as 
usual, a member of several difi'erent commit- 
tees. 

Mr. Linnell strongly supported temperance 
legislation, and a reduction of interest on 
money. He served with honor to himself 
and credit to the district. 

Mr. Linnell was married on the 21th of 
June, 1881:, to Carolina Sophia Anderson, a 
daughter of C. M. and Kaisa Anderson. She 
was a native of Smfdand, Sweden, born 
November 11, 1830. Mr. and Mrs. Linnell 
have been blessed Avith the following named 
children — Luther A., Medora E., Emely L., 
Llerbert M., William Sabin, Mary A., Albert 
T. and Annette E. The daugliter ISIedora is 
now a teacher in tlie graded schools at Grove 
City. Mr. Linnell has all his life been a 
worthy member of the Lutheran Evangelical 
Church, and is now one of its trustees and 
treasurer. He is a man of the strictest honor 
and integritv, and his word is recognized as 



386 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIXXESOTA. 



beino- as o-ood as liis l)on(l, wlierever he is 
known. lie is well read and well posted on 
all public topics and justly holds the confi- 
dence and esteem of ail who know him. 



I 



OHN WHALEN, one of the first pio- 
neers that broke the way for progress 
and civilization into the wilds of Meeker 
county, came here with a party of his coun- 
trymen, and made a settlement npon section 
24, of Forest City townshij), where he now 
lives. 

He is a native of Ireland, born in 
County Waterford, in the year 1824. He 
made liis home in the "Emerald Isle" until 
184C, when he crossed the ocean in search of 
a home in America. He landed at Montreal, 
Canada, reaching that place l)y way of the 
St. Lawrence lliver, and fi'om there by way 
of Montpelier, Vt., he drifted to Boston and 
Lowell, Mass. After some time spent in 
those places, he turned his steps toward Xew 
York and New Jersey, and finally to Phila- 
delphia, seeking employment Avherever it 
offered, for he \vas of an industrious disposi- 
tion, and had his living to provide for. Mak- 
ing up his mind that in the great West there 
was a greater chance for him, he accordingly 
came to Indiana, where he passed some six 
years and a half in farming, having adopted 
that calling. In the spring of 1S56. a party 
consistmg of the Whalens, the Flynns, the 
Fitzgeralds and others left Crown Point, Ind., 
for California, init reaching Dubu(|ue, Iowa, 
heard of this country, and determined to in- 
vestigate it. John Whalen and John Flynn 
pushed on ahead of the others, and on reach- 
ing Meeker count\', and being ])leased with 
it, returned for the train containing their 
families and friends, meeting them at Eoches- 
ter, this State. Tiiey at once headed for 
this country, and crossed the county line on 
the Otli of July, that year, and made their 



settlement. Mr. Whalen located upon the 
place where he now lives, tiie others else- 
where, as related in their memoirs. Mr. 
Whalen has added to iiis place from time to 
time, until he is now the owner of 714 acres, 
and is classed among the wealthiest farmers 
in the county. In 1S5G he was married to 
Miss Mary Flynn, and they are the j)arents 
of five children — Thomas^ James, Ellen, Mary 
and John. 

Politically, Mr. Whalen is a democrat of 
the Andrew Jackson type, and religiously is 
a devout member of the Roman Catholic 
Church. 



TOSEPH PLUMADORE, one of the act- 
^ ive, thorough-going agriculturists of 
Kingston township, living upon section 15, 
came to Meeker county in 1870, and settled 
at the village of Litchfield, where he })Hed 
his craft of carpenter. A few years later he 
removed to Minneapolis, where he followed 
the same avocation for about two years, 
when he returned here and took up his pi'cs- 
ent homestead, knowing that " here lands 
may be had for the asking, and forests of 
timber with a few blows of the axe are hewn 
and framed into houses." Although the 
place was covered with the primeval forest, 
still, by extreme energy and jJerseverance, he 
has succeeded in clearing it and developing a 
fine farm of eighty acres in extent. 

The subject of this memoir is a native of 
New York, born May 11, 1830, and is the son 
of William and Mary (Laurie) Plumadore. 
His father was a native of lahelle France^ 
and was engaged in all kinds of speculating 
and barter and sale. After attending school, 
our subject took up his handicraft, in whicli 
he served a full apprenticeship, and followed 
regularly until settling down to agricultural 
pursuits. He was united in marriage, Sep- 
tember 11, 1S73. with Miss Mary A])field, a 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



3S7 



native of Germany, whose parents had crossed 
the ocean with her in her infanc}^ and set- 
tled in Scoit county, where she was reared 
and educated. By this union Mr. and Mrs. 
Phimadore are the parents of an only daugh- 
ter—Edith, born April 22, 1S75. 

In his political views Mr. Plumadore coin- 
cides Avith the principles formulated in the 
platforms of the republican party, and has 
always been an adherent of that organiza- 
tion. His sterling- integritv and honorable 
dealing has won him hosts of friends in the 
community, and his name is synonymous 
with easy good nature and genial hospitality. 

ILS MARTENSON, one of the most 
highly respected and prominent farm- 
ers in the western ])art of Meeker county, 
resides on section 4, Swede Grove township. 
He was born in Sweden on the 10th of No- 
vember, ISiS, and is a son of Marten and 
Alice (Olson) Anderson. Nils was reared in 
his native land, ])ut in 1S6S, when twenty 
years old, he cameakme to America, landing 
in Quebec, making his way on to St. Paul, 
Minn., and one day later came to Litchfield, 
in Jleeker county. He worked two weeks 
for Ole Ingerman, four for Andrew Nelson, 
and then went to Cutt's Grove, where he was 
sick for six weeks. Upon his recovery he 
went to St. Paul, and one montii later to 
Louisiana, where he remained six months. He 
then returned to Minnesota, working for six 
months at St. Paul and Cutts' Grove in 
Washington county. After this he worked 
for six months in Louisiana, and then went 
to St. Paul to meet his parents who had just 
arrived from Sweden, and together they 
came to Meeker county and settled on the 
land where Nils now resides. Tliis was in 
1871. He is now in comfortable circumstan- 
ces, all of which is the result of his own 
enterprise, industry and good management. 



He owns one of the most valuable fains in 
the township, comprising 320 acres, a good 
share of which is under a iiigh state of cul- 
tivation. 

Mr. Martenson was mnrried on the 11th 
of August, 1873, to Ellen Trulson, wliose 
parents still reside in Meeker county. Mr. 
and Mrs. Martenson have been the parents 
of eight children, the three oldest of whom 
are dead. The names of those liv ng are 
Judet M., Euth, Samuel, Ehoda, and Lydia. 
The family are members of the Baptist 
Church and are exemplary Christian people. 
In political matters Mr. Martenson affiliates 
with the republican party. 

The parents of Mr. Martenson were natives 
of Sweden. Both of his parents died in 
this count V. 



PATRICK ENRIGHT, one of tiie most 
prominent and enterprising fai'mers 
and stock-i'aisers in the northern part of the 
county, resides on section IS, Manannah 
township. He was Ijorn in County Limerick, 
Ireland, March i^5, 183-±, and is a son of John 
and Eliza (Blake) Enright. He left his native 
land in 1S47 with his parents, and settled in 
Canada, where his parents remained until 
the time of their death. Our subject re- 
mained in Canada until 1874, when he came 
to Meeker county, Minn., and settled on sec- 
tion 18, Manannah township, where he still 
lives. He is now in comfortable circum- 
stances, and is one of the largest land owners 
in the township, having 400 acres of land. 
A good share of his place is under cultiva- 
tion, and in connection with diversified farm 
ing he devotes considerable attention to rais- 
ing stock. In political matters Mi'. Enright 
affiliates with the democratic party, and lias 
taken an active interest in public matters. 
He has been prominently identified with tiie 
official history of the township, and has held 



3S8 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIXNESOTA. 



various local ottices. int'ludino- that of town- 
ship sui)ei'visor, which ottice he has held for 
six terms. 

Mr. Enright was married in December, 
ISoo. to Miss Mary Fitzpatriek, and their 
marriage has been blessed with nine children, 
us follows — Patrick, Mary, Eliza, James, 
William, Catherine, Michael, Marguaret and 
John, all of whom are still living. ]\Irs. 
Enright's parents were natives of Ireland. 
The mothor died in Canada and the father in 
^[eeker county. 

BothjMr. and Mrs. Enright are exemplary 
meml)crs and active suj)j)orters of the Cath- 
olic Church. 



-«« 



►^^ 



WILLIAM GRONO is the proprietor 
of the marble works at Litchfiekl, 
the first and only establishment of the kind 
ever started at the county seat. Mr. Grono 
was born at Pontiac, Oakland county, Mich., 
October 4, ISfiO, and is the son of William 
and ]\[innie (Zelhime) Grono. Both of his 
parents were natives of Prussia, who had 
settled in Michigan in 1856. In 1872 they 
settled at Worthington, Mmn., taking up 
government land in N"obles county, on which 
the parents still reside. William Grono, Jr., 
remained wiLii his parents until he was fif- 
teen years of age when he went to Owa- 
tonna, ]\[inn., and learned the marble cutter's 
trade. lie remained in that city until 1883, 
when he went to Montevideo, and in company 
with J. II. Seaman, engaged in the marble 
trade. A year later he sold his interest to 
his i^artner and came to Litchfield, and on 
tlie first of March, 1885, established the mar- 
ble works of which he is still proprietor. lie 
carries on an extensive business. 

Mr. Grono was married on the 10th of 
October,lS84, to Miss Rosa Maw, of Steele 
county, Minn. They have one chdd — Maudie 
May, l)oru Janvuirv 25, 1886. 



TpTALVER O. HALVERSEN, one of Acton 
i^i township's representative farmers, is 
one of the best known citizens in the western 
part of Sleeker county. He is a native of 
Wisconsin, born on the 2r)th of October, 
1850. Ilis j)arents were Henry and ilarga- 
rette Ilalversen, both natives of Nor\vay. 
They came to the United States in 1840. and 
settled in Wisconsin, where they engaged at 
farminir, and remained until 1856, then came 
to Sleeker county, Minn., and settled upon a 
farm, which the father purchased in Litch- 
field township. In 1883 they sold this, and 
the father purchased a farm in Acton town- 
ship, which he still owns. At this writing 
the father is visiting in Washington Terri- 
tory. 

H. 0. Ilalversen, the subject of this sketch, 
was brought up on a farm. LTpon attaining 
his manhood he was married to Mrs. Uattie 
Olson, in 1873, widow of Gutrom Olson, 
who died in 1867. By her first marriage his 
wife had one child, Gurine, who was born 
December 5, 1867, and died July 21, 1882. 
Mr. and Mrs. Halversen have been blessed 
with the following children — Mattie A., born 
May 13, 1875 ; Henry C, born February 27, 
1877, and died July '22, 1882; and Ida O., 
born January 10, 1870, and died July 10, 
1882 (these three children died of diphtheria, 
and were buried on the same day); and the 
following children, who are living — Mattie 
A., born May 13, 1875; Ole L., born August 
22, 1881 ; and Ida (Murine Henrietta, born 
December 29, 1883. i\Ir. Ilalvei'sen has been 
very successful in his farming o))erations, 
and is well-off in this '" world's goods." He 
has in all 291 acres of land, and hves on the 
northwest quarter of section 24, where he 
has a neat and comfortable residence, and 
splendid barn, and other farm buildings. In 
addition to his farming and stock-i-aising 
interests, he runs a steam tliresher during the 
threshing season. At the time of the Lulian 
outbreak, althouyh ]\[r. Ilalversen was but a 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



3^9 




lad of twelve, he has a distinct recollection 
of the events during that trying time. His 
parents fled with the famih' from their 
Litchfield farm, and went to Forest City for 
safety. A year later, however, Halver re- 
turned witlx his father and helped put in the 
crops. Til is matter receives full attention 
in the chapter I'elating to the massacre. In 
religion Mr. Halversen and famih' are mem- 
bers of the Xorwegian Lutheran Church, 
and in political matters, Mr. Halversen is a 
republican. 



EORGE DICKSON, for many years 
a banker in Scotland and India, 
retired in Ijroken health in 1S72, on a life 
pension of five thousand dollars per annum. 
After recruiting his health for over two 
vears in Eng-land, he traveled throuo'h the 
United States and Canada, during 1874 and 
1875, and in 1880 purchased from Col. "V7. 
S. King, the property of " Oakwood," in 
Danielson township, ]Meeker county. Minn. 

This is one of th'e best equipped fanus in 
the State of Minnesota, the buildings being 
of a very superior description and well fin- 
ished. It contains 150 acres of well matured 
timber, skirting "Lake Dickson," two miles 
long, h^ one and three-quarters of a mile in 
breadth. The soil is remarkably good, 
ffentlv rolling thi'oucrhout: is well watered, 
and is subdivided by over eight miles of sub- 
stantial fencing. 

The herd of short horn cattle usually num- 
bers from 130 to 180 head, and has been 
graded up to a high state of perfection. 
The interior accommodation, with numerous 
box stalls for wintering 1-30 head of cattle 
and eighteen horses, is very complete. 

The loft of the cattle barn, 195 by 40 feet, 
with two large wings, has a capacity of 200 
tons of hay ; and the stable, S() by 40 feet, a 
capacity of 100 tons. 



Over 500 acres are under cultivation ; two 
separate holdings, each of 160 acres, have 
hitherto been let to tenants, and the main 
farm, usually held by a tenant " on shares " 
is under a regidar cereal rotation, and has 
ample provision of natural and cultivated 
grasses, orchard and blue grass, red clover 
and timothy. 

A school house and postoffice have recently 
been established here. Otherwise consider- 
able improvements in building, draining and 
fencing have been effected on the pi'opeity 
since 1880. So that it is now one of the 
most valuable and desirable among ^[inne- 
sota"s •• Bonanza farms." 



-^--j^^:- 



/o?? RiCK BYLU.ND is a prominent old set- 
V^^ tier who resides on section 6. Litch- 
field to\vnship. He was born in Sweden on 
the 16th of February, 1824, and is a son of 
John E. and Anna Byliind. His early life 
was one of incessant toil and bitter hardship, 
and during four years of the earlier period 
of his life, from 1837 to 1840, he lived on 
nothing but fish and bread made from pine 
bark. In 1850 he came to the L'nited States 
and after living one winter in Illinois he came 
to Minnesota, settling at Taylor's Falls. 
Chisago county. There were but very few 
settlers in the Territory' of Minnesota at that 
time and none away from the east territorial 
line. Erick worked for several j-ears in the 
pineries striving to get money enough 
together to transport his father anil brother 
from the old world to the new. In 1863 he 
came to Meeker county and located on sec- 
tion 6, in Litchfield township, where he still 
lives. During that summer he helped build 
a fort near his fann and his own and four 
other families occupied it for several weeks 
during the Indian scare. 

In 1857 Mr. Byiund was married to Cath- 
erine Xordin, a native of Sweden, who bore 



3Q0 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



liiiii twn cliildren — Jolin, horn l)cceiHl)er 7, 
] SriS, (lied when four j'etirs of age ; and Nels, 
born June 12, ISCO. Nels has always fol- 
lowed farming with his father, and now has 
cliiirge of the farm. Mrs. ByhuKl died on 
the ISth of May, 1884, and Mr. Bylund and 
son, Nels, have since lived on the old home- 
steail, which is beautifully situated in the 
northwestern part of the township. The 
farm is well located and well improved. 



■*•-[< 



>^^^-\ EORGE NEUBAUER, an intelligent, 

''•y'V I'espected and prominent farmer and 

esidiui 



stock-raiser, residin"' on section 9, Forest 
Pj'airie township, was liorn in Baiern, Ger- 
many, on the 7th of April, 1832, and isason 
of George and Catherine (Martin) Keubauer. 
His father and mother ^vere the jiarents of 
eleven children, some of whom, however, 
died in infancy. 

George Neubauer, the subject of this sketch, 
spent his boyhood days in his native land, at- 
tending school regalarl}' until he was twelve 
years old, and for six years thereafter, at- 
tended a school held every Sunday. He re- 
mained at home with his parents until he was 
twenty years of age, when, in 1852, he, in 
company with his brothers and sisters, John, 
Michael, Mary and Barbara, came to the 
United States. They landed in New York 
and tlicn went to Jersey City, where they re- 
mained two years, George being at work in 
a cement factory. In 185i they removed to 
Silver Creek, Penn., and lived there until 
1879, when George came to Minnesota. 

In 1881, George Neubauer came to Meeker 
county and located on section 22, Forest 
Prairie township. Two years later he set- 
tled u])on the place on section 9, where he 
still resides. He has a valuable farm of eighty 
acres and devotes his attention to general 
farming and stock-raising. 

Our subject v.'as married before leaving his 



native land, on the l.")tli of August, 1852, to 
]\riss Elizaljeth Schreivogel. They have 
eight children living, six boys and two girls, 
as follows — John, Michael, Mary, Joseph, 
Lawrence, Lizzie, George and Daniel. 

In political matters, Mr. Neubauer is a 
democrat. The family are respected mem- 
bers of the Catholic Church. 



•«"!^i^-4^ 



_. MBROSE T. DORMAN. Another pio- 
i'll_ neer family of Meeker county is the 
Dormans, some of whom have jmssed away, 
some have removed from the county, but 
there are a few here still. One of them, and 
a prominent one, is the gentleman whose 
name heads this article. 

Ambrose Dorman was born in Ilai'ring- 
ton, AVashington county. Me., May 29, 1836, 
antl was there reared to manhood. He re- 
ceived the elements of the excellent education 
which is the privilege of every citizen of New 
England, in the schools of his native town. 
In 1858, with a view to the betterment of his 
fortunes, he came to Minnesota and settled 
in Meeker county, where he now resides. 

Nathaniel Dorman, the father of the sub- 
ject of this memoir, came to Meeker county 
in 1857, with the first settlers of the town- 
ship, and took up a cLiim. The old gentle- 
man, altliou^'li some eiii'litv-four years of asre, 
still survives, a monument to the regularity 
of the lives of the former generation, whose 
habits have preserved them to a ripe old age. 
Mrs. Nathaniel Dorman died in 1870, and 
her remains are buried in the Kingston cem- 
et^r}'. They were the parents of eight chil- 
dren, seven of whom are living — John F., 
Phoebe S., Ambrose T., Hany Y., Samuel A., 
Ellen E. and Leonard L. 

Ambrose T. Dorman made a trip to Cali- 
fornia in 18(53, and remained in that Eldo- 
rado, engaged in mining, for some three 
years, and then returned to Meeker county. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



391 



He is somewhat of an adventurous disposi- 
tion, havins: followed the sea for some five 
years in his _youth, and spent one j'ear in 
Maine, one in Wisconsin, and one in the 
Minnesota pineries. April 18, 18(i0, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Goble, 
a native of Kentucky, born July 27, 1847, 
and the daughter of William and Edith 
(Phelps) Goble. Her father died here in 
June, 1876, and his body lies at rest in the 
cemetery of Kingston; her mother is still liv- 
ing. The latter is a native of Virginia, where 
she grew to the years of womaniiood. 

Mr. and Mrs. Domian have an interesting 
family of five children, whose names are as 
follows — Willie A., Edith V., Silva Jane, 
_Mai"tha Ann, and John P. Mr. Dorman is a 
stanch adherent to the principles of Jeffer- 
^sonian democracy in his politics, and is a 
worthy and public spirited citizen .of the 
county. 



-^^^ 



JOHN HILL. The subject of this bio- 
grajihy, a resident of section 28, Manan- 
nah townsliip, is one of the most intelligent, 
leading and successful farmers and stock-rais- 
ers in the northern part of the countj^ He 
was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1829, 
and is a son of Francis and Mary (Campbell) 
Hill. His early life was spent in his native 
land, where he acquired the iiabitsof industry, 
perseverance and frugality', wliich are so 
characteristic of the race from which he 
springs. In 1851 he came to tlie LTnited 
States, landing in Boston and proceeded to 
Lowell, Mass., where he remained for eleven 
years, working in a cotton factory. Tie then 
went to San Francisco, Cal., where he lived 
for five years, engaged at firing on an engine. 
He then returned to Lowell, Mass., and six- 
teen montiis later he came to Meeker county, 
Minn. From Clearwater he came by stage 
to Forest City, and the next day he ari'ived 



at the house of Owen Quinn, in Manannah 
townshi]x A few days later he purchased 
the farm on section 28, where he still resides. 
He has 240 acres of land, and devotes his 
attention to farming and stock raising. 

Mr. Hill was married on the 21st of Feb- 
ruary, 1855, to Hannah McAloon. Their 
marriage has been blessed with three chil- 
dren, Avhose names were Francis, John and 
Charles H. John is the only child living, 
the other two having died, and are buried in 
Lowell, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Elill are exem- 
plary members and active sujjporters of the 
Catholic Church. 

In political matters Mr. Hill affiliates with 
the democratic i)arty. 



/f^HARLES A. OILMAN, a prominent and 
\^>' energetic farmer of Cosmos township, 
has his beautiful home upon sections 20 and 
29, where his fine farm of 240 acres is sit- 
uated. He came to this locality in 1877, and 
for about a year lived on section 26, and then 
three j^ears on 33. In 1881 he took up his 
present homestead. One hundred acres of 
his land is well cultivated and the improve- 
ments are of a high class. 

Mr. Gilman was born at Sangerville, 
Piscataquis county. Me., August 25, 1846, 
and is the son of Jonathan C. Gilman and 
wife, natives of Gihnanton, N. H. His 
parents removed to Maine in 1826, and lo- 
cated at Sangerville and made their home 
there until 1850, when thej' moved to Dex- 
ter, Penobscot county, where the}' still live. 
Charles remained at home until he was about 
twelve years of age, when he commenced 
worlcing for other parties, and was thus em- 
ploj'ed until 1863. About that time the gov- 
ernment, needing more men to suppress the 
rebellion, had just issued a new call for vol- 
unteers, and in Se])tember, 1863, our subject 
enlisted in Company E, Second Maine Cav- 



392 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



airy, and served with the Nineteenth Army 
Corps in all its campaigns and marches, lie 
was discharged at the close of hostilities, at 
Augusta, Me., September 11, 1S05, and going 
to Dead river, Franklin county, that State, 
bought a farm, upon ^viiicli lie settled, and 
where he made his home until 1872, when, 
selling out, he came to Minneapolis and went 
into the lumber business. He came to 
Meeker county from there in 1877. 

Mr. Gilman was married, October 27, 
1865, to Miss Angelina S. Fisher, a native 
of Parkman, Piscataquis county, Me., and 
daughter of A. J. and Laura A. (Sargent) 
Fisher. They have a family of two children — 
George F. and Charles A. Mr. Gilman is a 
member of Frank Daggett Post, No. 35, G. A. 
E., and has served the town as justice of the 
peace from 18So until tlie present time. 



i^^ 



PENRY E. DANIELSON, a prominent 
farmer anil stock-i'aisei', wiio resides 
on section 31, Cedar ]\Iills township, is a 
native of Meeker count}', antl is a member 
of one of the most prominent pioneer fami- 
lies in the county. He was born in Acton 
township, Meeker county, Minn., on the 25th 
of April, 1858, and is a son of Nels and 
Kandi Danielson, after whom the township of 
Danielson was named. A full histor}' of his 
parents will be found elsewhere in this work. 
Henry was the fifth in a family of six chil- 
dren. He remained at home with his fath- 
er's family until 1881, when he struck out 
for himself to earn his own way in the world. 
He first went to Atwater, where he remained 
for some three months, and then went to 
Minneapolis, where he spent one winter in 
Archibald's Business College. The follow- 
ing spring- he entered the employ of the St. 
Paul, Minneapolis A: Manitoba Railway Com- 
pany as car repairer, and remained in that 
position until ^lay, 1881. During the fol- 



lowing season he Avas engaged at carpenter 
work and various other lines of employment. 
In the spring of 1885 he located on section 
31, Cedar Mills township, where he still 
lives. He has a valuable farm of 160 aci'cs, 
a good share of wliieli is under cultivation, 
has comfortable buildings, and is in good 
circumstances. He devotes liis attention to 
general farming and stock-raising, and by his 
enterprise and industry he now ranks with 
the leading and most substantial citizens of 
of the township. 

Mr. Danielson was married while in Glyn- 
don,on the 25th of June, 1883, to Miss Mary 
Eller, and one child has been born to them — 
Daniel D., born February 27, 1886. Mrs. 
Danielson was born at Baiern, Germany, on 
tiie lOtli of January, 1861. Her parents' 
names were Jojian and Maria Eller. 



^-^^ 



OHN KONSBRICK, of the city of Litch- 
field, is a native of the duch}' of Luxem- 
burg, Germany, born in the year 1839. He 
was reared in the land of his birth, among 
its picturesque and vine clad hills, and 
remained there until he had reached the age 
of one and twenty. He then emigrated to 
the shores of the new world to better his 
fortunes, and on arrival in this country set- 
tled at Aurora, 111., where he lived for some 
two years, and at the expiration of that time 
came to Minnesota. For two yeai's he was 
employed in farming in Dakota county, after 
which he sjient a couple of years more at 
Bellevue, Jackson county, Iowa. From the 
latter place he returned to Dakota county, 
this State, and after a trip to the Teri'itory 
of Dakota ho came to Litchfield, and for 
three years was in tiie employ of John 
Rodange, a fellow countryman and an 
acquaintance of his boyhood. In 1883 our 
subject started for himself in the retail 
liquor business, but some two years later his 




^ y^'0i^ 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



395 



place was destroyed by fire by whicli he lost 
some $700 over tlie insurance. lie, instead 
of being discouraged, at once commenced to 
put up a new building. It was erected at a 
total cost of something like $4,500, and is a 
credit to the town. Mr. Konsbrick is one of 
the leading saloon men of the town and a 
square business man. 



m^'c. NIELSON KASTETT, a respected 
farmer who resides on section 23, 
Danielson township, is a son of Niels and 
Marie (Olson) Kastett, and was born in Nor- 
way, on the 15th of Jul}', ISiU. He came to 
the united States in 1861, and first settled in 
Houston county, Minn., where he remained 
one summer, and then M'ent to Iowa, where 
he stayed for two years at work for farmers. 
In December, 1S63, lie enlisted in the Second 
Minnesota Cavalry, and Avas mustered in 
early in the following January. He served 
on the frontier, participating in two engage- 
ments with the Indians in the Bad Lands of 
Dakota, and was finally mustered out at 
Fort Snelling, in December, 1SC5. He then 
returned to Houston county, Minn., and re- 
mained there until the spring of 18C6, when 
he came to what is now Cosmos township, 
Meeker county, then a part of Lincoln county. 
He was the first man to take a team and a 
plow into that township, and did the first 
breaking there. He also erected the first 
house. He remained there for five years, 
and then lived in Danielson township for five 
years, after which he spent two years in 
Cosmos, and then settled on the place where 
he now lives. In 1S7S he sold his Cosmos 
farm, and now owns a place of ninety acres 
on section 23, Danielson toAvnship. He has 
taken an active interest in all mattei's affect- 
ing the wellfare of the township, and has 
held various local offices, including that of 
chairman of the township supervisors for two 
or three years. 



Our subject was married on the 22d of 
January, 1870, to Mary N. Nelson, who 
is mentioned at length hereafter. They are 
the parents of the following children — Nellie 
Amelia, born October 25, 1870 ; Regina 
Marie, born August 19, 1872; Nels Oliver, 
born July 28, 1871:; George Henry Necha- 
lai, born August 8, 1876 ; Carl Theodore, 
born July 10, 1879 ; Helen Matilda, born 
April 30, 1882; Eagnhild Mary Agnes, born 
July 16, 1881; and Daniel Anton, born Jan- 
uary 26, 1887. 

Mary'N. Nelson, the wife of Ole Nielson 
Kastett, is a daughter of Nels and Ragnliild 
Danielson, the first settlers in Danielson 
township, and was born in Norway, on the 
16th of October, 1819. She came to the 
United States in 1855 with her parents, and 
after stopping for two years in Wisconsin, in 
1857 they came to Meeker county, Minn., 
where they have since lived. When the 
Indian outbreak began, the family with the 
majority of the other settlers, hastily went 
to Forest City, and a short time later to 
Kingston, it being stated that the string of 
teams extended in procession from one place 
to the other. They remained at Kingston 
but a short time, and then went back to 
Forest City and moved into a house near the 
river, there being another family to occui)y 
it with them. Mr. Danielson, the father, 
was helping to complete the fort in the after- 
noon before the attack was made on Forest 
City, and, beginnning to fear that an attack 
would be made, he directed the women to 
take the children and go to the hotel, which 
they did. He and three other men remained. 
In the night the house was set on fire, and upon 
looking out, they coukl see hundreds of Indi- 
ans. They succeeded in escaping, however, 
unhurt. The Danielsons remained but a few 
days after the attack, and then retui-ned to 
their farm, but before taking the family 
back, the father and the daughter, Helen, 
had gathered some of the grain. The follow- 



396 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



ing winter Mr. Danielson took fifty head of 
cattle to winter, and as lie had hay in Kan- 
di\'olii county, he took tluMu there and also 
took his daughters llclcn and Mary to aid in 
caring foi- tlieni. The father was unable to 
clotiie the girls properly, and as they could 
not keep u|) enough fire to keep even water 
next to the stove from freezing, both the 
girls froze their feet badly, and the father 
contracted rheumatism from which he after- 
ward died. Tiiis will illustrate some of the 
harilships whicii the early settlers were com- 
pelled to endure. The daughter, Mary, re- 
mained at home until her marriage. Having 
been among the oldest settlers of the county, 
she has witnessed the county grow from 
nothing to its present pros]ierous andtliickly 
settled condition. 



ILLIAM H. WILCOX, ex-county 
commissioner, a resident of Swede 
Grove township, is one of the most prominent 
citizens in the noi'thern part of the county. 
He is a native of Ohio, born on the 22d of 
May, 183.5, and was the son of Horace and 
Polly "Wilcox. His father was extensively 
engaged in the dairy business. 

"William H. remained with his parents un- 
til lie was twenty-one years of age and then 
began life for himself, working first in a 
cheese factory for a year, and then starting 
for the "West. He worked about St. Paul 
and Minneapolis until 1857, when he bought 
a squatter's claim to 100 acres of land in 
Manannah township in Meeker county, pay- 
ing fifty dollars for it. He secured govern- 
ment title with a soldier's land warrant, 
wiiicii cost him $130. He then sold the land 
to a Mr. Deck- for $750 in gold, and bought 
ir>0 acres on sections 2 and 3, in Swede Grove 
township, where he lias since liveil with the 
exception of the summer of 1858, when he 
worked at St. Paul. He returned to his 



place in the fall, accompanied by Mr. Ryck- 
man, who had a claim adjoining, and they 
"bached it" too;ether durino; the followin<ic 

o o o 

winter. "When the Indian outlireak occurred 
he had a family on the place keeping house 
and his brother was living with him. (_)n the 
same day as the killing of Jones and l!akoi', 
eleven Indians cam]ied near his claim, and 
upon learning of the killing Mr. "W^ilcox 
accused the eleven of doing it, but they de- 
nied this, claiming they were "good In- 
dians," and left without doing any mischief. 
Mr. Wilcox supposed the matter amounted 
to nothing more than a drunken row, but 
soon learned that it was to be a general out- 
break. He therefore loaded sixteen women 
and eliildren together with a few trunks onto 
a wagon and sent the outfit to Forest City 
in cliarge of his brother. He remained at 
home until nearly night and then took his 
gun and went out on the prairie to see if 
there ^vere any Indians about. At a neigh- 
bor's he learned that the Indians were mur- 
dering and burning everything as they went, 
and were scouring the country for whites, 
and he was prevailed upon to go with them 
to Forest City. The following morning he 
started back for his farm against the advice 
of his friends, but feeling that he could not 
stay there and let his ho«js and cattle, which 
were shut up, starve. Upon approaching the 
house he saw that the kitchen was open 
and expected every moment to see the head 
of an Indian poked out and feel the lead 
from a rifle. He was relieved, however, by 
finding the house empty, but the stove was 
still warm, as the Indians had been cooking 
there and had demolishetl things generally, 
and stolen whatever they could carry off, 
cutting open a feather bed to get a sack to 
hold their liooty. After this, he remained 
alone most of the time caring for his grain 
and stock, until he joined the "Home 
Guards," a company organized at Forest 
City, for protection against the Indians. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



397 



Mr. Wilcox was married on tiie 'Jtli of 
November, 1867, to Miss Ellen Peterson. 
She was a native of Swetlen, horn December 
29, 1850, and is a daughter of Hans and 
Betsy (Ostrad) Peterson. She was six j'ears 
old when she came to America. Mr. and 
Mrs. Wilcox have been blessed with the fol- 
lowing children — Lillie, born November 12, 
1868; Sarah, born November 22, 1870; 
Horace, born July 22, 1873, and I^ellie, born 
February 21, 1877. Mr. Wilcox has taken a 
very prominent part in all matters of a pub- 
lic nature. He was the principal factor in 
tiie organization of the Swede Grove town- 
ship in 1869 ; was county commissioner for 
tliree j^ears ; township clerk in Manannah 
three years ; town clerk in Swede Grove 
tliree years ; chairman of tlie sujiervisors for 
two years, and has held many other offices of 
responsibility. Mr. Wilcox owned the first 
cheese factory in operation in Meeker county, 
having established it in ISGi, and one year 
sold $1,600 worth of cheese. His house was 
one of the first frame buildings erected in 
tiie northwestern part of the county, having 
been built in 1865. It is a story and a half 
building, 20x28 feet in size with an addition 
10x21 feet. He also has substantial farm 
buildings, including two spacious barns, a 
granary, and other buildings. His many 
years of residence here have made him well 
known among all the old settlers, and he is 
held in high regard wherever he is known. 

A portrait of Mr. Wilcox is presented in 
anotlier de})artment of this album. 



fAMES QUIGLEY, one of the old resi- 
dents of Forest City townsliip, came to 
Meeker county about the year 180G, and set- 
tled in Forest Prairie, where he made his 
home for some five years. At the exjiiration 
of that period he removed to Kingston, from 
Avhence, some five years later, he came to 



Forest City, and Icjcated upon 160 acres of 
land on section 20, wliich he owns, and 
where he now lives. He is a native of Can- 
ada. He left that province in 1866, and 
came to Minnesota, where he has since 
lived. 

Mr. Quigley was married in 1872, at For- 
est City, and by this union there has been 
born one child — Mary Ann. In his politics 
Mr. Quigley is a democrat, but has given l)ut 
little attention to such matters. He is a re- 
spected and esteemed citizen, and one of the 
older residents of the county, who is looked 
up to as such. 



i\. NDREW P. NELSON, a member of 



the lirm of Dudley & Nelson, grain- 
dealers, and owners of tlie elevator that bears 
their name, is one of the representative citi- 
zens of Grove City, where he has lived for 
more than eighteen years. 

The subject of tliis personal narrative was 
born in Sweden April 28, 1841, and is the 
son of N. P. and Sarah Nelson. He made 
his home in the land of his birth until 1867, 
wlien emlwrkino- he crossed the ocean to 
the new world, to better his condition in life. 
He landed at New York, October 7, of that 
year, and from there came to Minnesota, 
and after staying a short time in New Lon- 
don, Kandiyohi county, went from there to 
St. Cloud, and on to AVatab, where he found 
employment in a saw-mill, with Asa Libby. 
He remained there until fall, when he went 
into the pineries, and there was engaged 
until the following April, when he returned 
to Watab, and Avent to school for about six 
weeks, but from there went to Minneapolis 
and was employed in the brickyard of 
Woodward tfe Co., he having worked at that 
business in the old country. In the follow- 
ing October he commenced track-laying for 
the St. Paul ct Paci fie Pailroad Company, and 



398 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



continued with them until November 17, 
1869, when he received orders to take his 
crew of men to Swede Grove, and stopped 
that night about two miles and a half from 
the place, with Eric Bylund. lie then 
reached his destination and secured board 
for himself and crew with Peter J. Lund, 
and went to woi-k to put in the side-track, 
etc. lie remained liere that winter, and in 
the spring moved into a little house that 
Olaf Levander built about tliat time. Mr. 
Nelson had charge of the railroad men here 
until January 1, 1878, when he entered into 
the general mercliandise business with Mr. 
Peterson, under the firm name of Peterson, 
Nelson ife Co. They also handled lumber in 
connection with their other business, Mr. Nel- 
son having been in the latter line while in the 
railroad company's employ. Mr. Peterson 
dying a few months later the firm name 
changed to that of Dudley k Nelson. They 
carried on the business, besides a store in 
Minneapolis for three years, when Mr. Nel- 
son sold out to his ]iartner, and in company 
witli Isaac Cooper, went into tlie lumber, 
grain and cattle business, but two years later, 
going out of the firm resumed his old place 
with ilr. Dudle}', and the firm thus formed, 
Dudley & Nelson, are the prominent grain 
dealers of the village. 

November 29, 1873, Mr. Nelson married 
Miss Anna, daughter of Peter J. and Elna 
Lund, who died December 3, 1871-, when her 
son, Adolph, was but eleven days old. The 
grandparents took care of the child until 
July, 1878, when Mr. Nelson was united in 
marriage with Miss Sarah Lund, a sister of 
his first wife, who assumed charge of the 
little orphan. She has been tlie mother 
of four ciiildren, three of whom are dead, 
and one, Anna, born August 3, 1881, is liv- 
ing. 

Mr. Nelson has filled the office of school 
director, and is the ))resent village treas- 
urer. 



WIMOTHY GIBNEY, the suljject of tliis 
biograjihical notice, is an enter])nsing 
and thorough farmer who resides on section 
27, in ^fanannah townsliip. lie was born in 
Upper Canada on tlie 22d of Noveml^er, 
1819, anil is the son of John and Anna (Ilea- 
ney) Gibney, his parents being natives of Ire- 
land. Ilis early life was spent in his native 
Dominion and in 1805 he came with his 
parents to the United States and they made 
their way directly to Meeker county, Minn., 
settling in Manannah township, where tiiey 
still reside. Timothy has 120 acres of land 
and has been very successful in his farming 
operations. In connection with his diversi- 
fied fanning interests, he carries on stock rais- 
ing in a limited way. 

The subject of our sketch was married on 
the 4th of February, 1883, to ]\nss Mary E. 
McCaffery, and their marriage has been 
blessed with three children whose names are 
James T., Elizabeth, and Patrick, all of 
whom are still living and at home. ]\Irs. 
Gibne3''s parents were both natives of Ire- 
land, wlio came to America at an early day 
and died in Upper Canada. Both Mr. and 
Mrs. Gibne\' are exemplary memliers and 
active supporters of tiie Catholic Church. 

Mr. Gibney is a Democrat in pohtical mat- 
ters and has taken an active interest in 
townshi]) affairs, having held various local 
offices. 

1^ ICHARD WELCH, deputy auditor of 
J^^ Meeker county, is a native of Cayuga 
county, N. Y., born June 5, 1859, and is tiie 
son of Ilichard and Bridget (McDonald) 
Welch. His parents were married in Syra- 
cuse, N. Y'., in 1853, and shortly after re- 
moved to Cayauga county, where the}' still 
make their home. 

The subject of tliis memoir remained at 
home upon a farm until he had attained his 



MERKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



399 



majority, but in his twent^'-first j'ear came 
to Minnesota and located in Meeker county. 
For a ])eriod of five years after coming here, 
he was engaged in teacliing school, but in 
the spring of 1885 he went to Buffalo county, 
Dak., and there took up a homestead of 16U 
acres of land. That territory had been thrown 
open to settlers by a proclamation of Presi- 
dent Arthur, but the present administration 
seeing fit to annul and make void this action 
of its ]iredecessor, Mr. Welch, in company 
with many others was forced to abandon his 
claim. He then returned to Litchfield whei-e 
he has made his home ever since. He was 
ajjpointed to the office of deputy auditor of 
]\[eeker county in 1886, and is still engaged 
in the duties of that position. He is a young 
man in j'ears, but has already won for him- 
self an enviable reputation for steadiness and 
upright principles, and will, no doubt, occup}' 
more important and responsible positions in 
the future, as he well deserves. 



-«•-!; 



TgT AI-STFN ANDERSON. The subject 
X'll. of this biograpiiical sketch is a farmer 
resitling on section 1, Danielson township. 
He is a son of Andrew and Carrie Ilarolson, 
and was born in Norway on the ITth of No- 
vember, 1818. His early life was spent on 
a farm in the land of his birth and he re- 
mained there until 1870, when he came to the 
United States. He Avent first to Dane 
county, Wis., where he stayed about three 
years, being engaged at work for various 
farmers. At the end of that time, March 
1."), 1873, he came to Meeker county, 
Minn., and worked for farmers in the 
neighborhood of Grove City until June, 
1876, and at that time ])urchased forty 
acres of land on section 1, in Danielson 
township, where he still lives. He has since 
bought an additional eighty adjoining his 
original farm, so that his place now consists 



of 120 acres. He has a good share of it 
under cultivation, and divides his time be- 
tween general farming and stock raising. 
He was a poor man when he came to 
America, and had to boi'row the mone\' with 
which to pay his fare, but by industry and 
frugality he has accumulated a comfortable 
property. 

Mr. Anderson married Miss Ingeborff 
Michelson. Her parents were Michael and 
Anna Anderson, Avho Avere born in Norway, 
and lived there until the time of their 
deaths. The parents of Halsten were also 
natives of Norway, where his father died 
and his mother still lives. 

Mr. and Mrs. Halsten Anderson have been 
the jiarents of the following named children — 
Andrew, born May 3, 1873, died May 15, 
1887 ; Anna Clara, born September 3, 1875 ; 
Markus, born January 27, 1879, died April 
27, 1879 ; Mattis, born October 15, 1881 ; and 
Ida, born May 8, 1883. The family are 
members of the Norwegian Lutheran 
Church. 



^UEL J. HAWKINS. The subject of this 
sketch, a successful farmer and stock- 
raiser, residing on section 21, Cedar Mills 
township, while not an old settler here, is 
one of the most intelligent, prominent and 
influential citizens in the southern part of the 
count}'. He is a native of Litchfield, Conn., 
born July 8, 1826, and is a son of Amos and 
Minerva Hawkins, Ijoth of whom were na- 
tives of the same State. In 1835 the family 
emigrated to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where 
they were among the pioneer settlers. The 
father died at Conneaut, Ohio, in April, 1883, 
and the mother at Conneaut, Ohio, in 1850. 
In 1859 Buel J. started with a team and 
wagon for the then " far western " Kansas, 
and after a dreary overland journey, lasting 
some six weeks, he arrived in what is now 



400 



MEEKER COUXTV, M/XXESOTA. 



Crawford county, tlmt State. He pnrcliased 
goverinnent land and remained on that for 
abont twelve years, dividing his time between 
farming- and teaching school, until the fall of 
1S71, when he returned East and settled in 
Kane county, 111., upon a farm which he iiad 
purchased. Five or six years later he rented 
his place and removed to the town of Hamp- 
shire, 111., where he engaged in the loan, real 
estate and insurance business. lie took an 
active interest in all public matters there and 
became one of the most prominent residents in 
that locajity. lie was president of the Kane 
county Bible Association, and secretary of 
the Kane County Sunday-school Association, 
for many years, and also took an active in- 
terest in educational matters. In the fall of 
1885 j\rr. Hawkins purchased a farm on sec- 
tion 21, Cedar Mills township, Meeker county, 
Minn., and moved onto it in the spring of 
1886. Since that time he has devoted his 
time to general farming and stock-raising. 
He has a valuable farm of 300 acres, a good 
share of which is under cultivation. Since 
coming here he has taken active interest 
in all matters affecting the welfare of the 
township. The first year he was here he 
was elected treasurer of the school board, 
and in 1SS7 he was elected justice of the 
peace. 

Mr. Hawkins was first manned at Spring- 
field, Pa., in the spring of 1850, to Miss 
Mary A. Custard. She died in 1861 at Fort 
Scott, Kan., leaving three sons, as follows — 
Charles, now at Garnet, Kan. ; Herbert, now 
near Moscow, Idaho; and Kufus, now at 
Denver, Col. Mr. Hawkins was again mar- 
ried October 14, 1862, to Miss Susan R 
Welch, a native of Ohio. This marriage has 
been blessed with two children, who are now 
living — Areta, now Mrs. F. O. Iloltgren, of 
DcKalb county, 111 ; and Jennie, who is still 
with her ])arents. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins 
are prominent and active members of the 
Methodist Church. 



OHN RUDBERG. One of the leading 
merchants of Dassel. and a man wiio is 
in the truest sense of the wiml self-made, 
having hewn out his own ample comjietence 
with his own hands, is the gentleman of 
whom this sketch is written. He is a native 
of Sweden, born May 27, 1836, and made 
his home in that rugged, but i)icturesque 
land until he was about thirty years of 
age. Emigrating to the new world in 1866, 
he came by way of Minneapolis, that fall, to 
the town of Dassel and took up a homestead 
in section 26, and returnetl to the " Flour 
Cit}^ " to spend the winter. The following 
spring he purchased at high prices a wagon 
and an ox-team, together with plough and 
and other tools for agriculture, and started 
for his land in Meeker county about the mid- 
dle of June. The season was very wet, and 
he and John Erickson, who accompanied him, 
wei'e some three weeks upon their wa^'. In 
crossing the " Beaver Dam," which is now 
dr}' and under cultivation, Mr. Budbei'g had 
to stand up in the wagon and hold the sack 
of flour they had with them up out of the 
water, while his friend ]iiloted the team 
across the dam. On their ari'ival at their 
claims, for Erickson had a homestead on sec- 
tion 21, they at once commenced the erection 
of their cabins, clearing their land, for it was 
all timber-covered, and getting in a crop. 
By the fall of 1868, by hard and pei-sistent 
laboi", Mr. Rudberg had commenced to 
conquer nature and could show considerable 
wheat and plenty of vegetables that he had 
raised that season. In August of the latter 
year he was joined by his family, who had 
just come from Sweden in a sailing vessel, 
and had spent some fourteen weeks on their 
way from their native land to tiiiscountiv. 

In 1871, in connection with ilichel Ilen- 
drixson, he purchased a threshing machine, 
which for lack of horses was driven by oxen. 
As this was one of the two machines in this 
part of the country at that time, they had a 



MEEKER COVXTY, MIXXESO/A. 



401 



larere amount of business during- the season. 
They continued this business together until 
September, 1872, when Mr. Hendrixson ac- 
cidentally stepped into the cylinder of the 
machine while it was in motion, and his leg 
being torn otf belo\v the knee, he bled to 
death before a doctor could be procured. 
This took place at Hendrixson's own farm. 
From that time on until 1875 Mr. Rudberg 
carried on tliresliing by himself in connection 
with his farm interests, but at the date men- 
tioned removed to the village of Dassel, and 
in company witii his brothers, purchased in- 
terests in the business of Charles Morris, the 
pioneer genei'al merchandise store of that 
place. Morris & Rudberg Bros, remained 
in trade until 1881, when selling out, our sub- 
ject, in company with his brother Louis, 
bought the Dassel lumber yard, and estab- 
lished at tiie same time the furniture busi- 
ness. Louis Rudberg died in January, 1S84-, 
and John operated the entire business from 
that time on, and is still engaored in those 
lines. 

Mr. Rudberg was united in marriage, in 
Sweden, with Miss Mar}^ Johnson, a native 
of that country. 

PETER GROTTE, of Acton township, 
has cliarge of the farm whicli orig- 
inally belonged to Robinson Jones, wlio was 
murdered by the Indians in 1862. Peter 
Grotte, who carries on farming and stock- 
raising on this historic piece of land, is a son 
of Halda and Carrie Grotte, and was born in 
Xorway, on the 17th of December, 1856. 
Tlie family came to the United States in 
1868, pushed on to the Northwest, and after 
a stay of a few weeks in JMinneapolis, they 
came to Meeker county, and the father \mv- 
chased a tarm of forty acres on Long Lake. 
A year later this place was sold, and the 
father bought a farm on section 6, in Acton 



township, Avhere they lived for eleven years. 
At the expiration of that time one of the 
sons, Peter Peterson (Qrotte), purchased the 
farm, and the father then bought the Jones 
place, on section 21, in the same township, 
wliere the family still live. Tiie fatlier died 
on the 6th of July, 1883, and since tiiat time 
Peter Grotte, the siil)ject of this sketch, has 
had charge of the farm and carried on the 
business. The farm is a valuable one, con- 
sisting of 160 acres of land, a good sliare of 
which is under cultivation. 

The parents of Peter Grotte, Ilalda and 
Carrie Grotte, had a family of five children, 
wdiose names and ages were as follows — 
Mary, born March 13, 18-18 ; Peter II. Peter- 
son (Grotte), born November 17, 1852 ; Peter 
Grotte, born December 17, 1856 ; Joim, born 
December 20, 1860; Ingre, born April 2, 
1863, died May IS, of the same year. Tlie 
family are active members of the Norwegian 
Lutheran Ciiurch. 



IpEENRY AMES, one of the large land- 
IL^jj owners and prominent citizens of Dar- 
win township, has his home upon section 6. 
He is largely interested in the manufacture of 
brick and tile, commencing tliat line of busi- 
ness in the autumn of 1882, by buying the But- 
ler brick yard. In the following spring, liav- 
ing purchased the place where he now lives', he 
removed the yard to its present locatit)n. This 
line of manufacture has been an eminent suc- 
cess in his hands from the verj' start. He 
has made upon this place over 8,000,000 brick 
alone from the clay that covered an acre ami 
a half, and has an abundance of material left. 
In the fall of 1887 Mr. Ames took some two 
or three tons of the clay to the Chicago Ex- 
position to test it, and tried it on all the dif- 
ferent brick-making machines exhibited, and 
on his return burned the brick so made, and 
found that he could make his choice of the 



402 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



machines, suoli was tlie fine qiialit}' of his 
matei'ial. lie acconlingly purcliased the 
Kell & Son brick and tile machine, with a 
capacity of making 4:0,000 per day, and will 
start making brick and tile in the spring of 
1888. He gives employment to twenty-fonr 
men and from six to eight teams for nearly 
the whole year. Having some 420 acres of 
land, Mr. Ames devotes a share of his atten- 
tion to stock interests, principally in the way 
of Norman-Percheron horses and short-horn 
Durham cattle. 

Henry Ames was born in Oswego, N. Y., 
May 4, 184G, and is tiie son of Harlow and 
Adeline Ames. He was I'cared in that part 
of the Empii'e State, and received his educa- 
tion in the excellent sclioolsof that common- 
wealth. In 1SG3, when but seventeen years 
of age, he enlisted in the United States navy, 
at the Brooklyn nav\'-yai'd, and served 
throughout the war, on the flag-ship '"Lan- 
caster," and spent much of the time in the 
Pacific Ocean, the China Sea, and the Sea of 
Okhotsk, that vessel cruising there to pro- 
tect American commerce from the depreda- 
tions of rebel privateers. 

In 18fi7, after spending some time at his 
boyhood's liome, our subject came West, and 
located at Fort Dodge, Webster county, Iowa, 
where lie took up the mason's trade, and re- 
mained about ten months, and then came to 
this county and settled in what is now Dassel 
township, then Swan Lake, and tiiere made a 
stay of two years. While there he erected 
the first frame house in the township of Das- 
sel. In the spring of 1870 Mr. Ames re- 
moved to the young village of Litchfield, and 
for about two years was engaged at his trade, 
and then moved to Minneapolis, where he 
followed the same line of work til! fall. He 
went into the pineries then, and engaged in 
lumbering that season, returning at its close 
to tlie"Twin Cities." 

Iioturning to Oswego. N. Y., in October, 
1872, he was there unilcil in marriage, Octo- 



ber 10, with ]\riss Lottie Killan.and the same 
day started for his home in Da.ssel. Spend- 
ing the next winter in the saw-mill, in the 
spring he resumed the mason's trade, in part- 
nership with C. L. Todd, but in the fall com- 
menced to carry on business by hnnself, and 
continued in that line until the fall of 1882, 
Avhen he purchased his present place and em- 
barked in tiie brick-making business. 

]\Ir. and Mrs. Ames are the parents of three 
children — Gordon, born August 10, 1S74; 
Allan, born May 13, 1878, died January 2.), 
1879; and Bessie, born December 3, 1881. 
In his political views Mr. Ames coincides 
with the democratic party, and supports the 
candidates of that organization. 

AMUEL C. VINCENT, of Kingston 
township, came to Meeker county in 
1809, and settled where he now lives, on sec- 
tion 4, where he is engaged in general farm- 
ing. He was born in Cortland county, X. 
Y., May 12, 1816, and is the son of Isaac and 
Mary (McMuUen) Vincent, native, also, of 
the Empire State, both of whom died there. 
The subject of our sketch was one of a 
family of thirteen children, born to iiis par- 
ents. His Ijrothers and sisters were — xVljram, 
John, Sherwood, Charles, Cornelius, Char- 
lotte, Mercy, Hannah, Sallie, Pollie, Betsey, 
and Mary. Our subject was reared in the 
Empire State and there received his school- 
ing, and made it his home until 1869, when 
he came here, and has since that time been 
identified with the growth and progress of 
this county. His early days were spent in 
the school room and in assisting his father in 
the labors upon tlieir farm in the town of 
Truxton, but upon attaining his majority he 
commenced lumbering and farming, which 
he followed for some seven yeai's. He ^vas 
united in marriage, June 22, ISl.'i, with Miss 
Einilv Stewart, a native of Connecticut, born 





C/ 




o^ic^-i 



J 



MEEKER COUNTY. MINNESOTA. 



405 



November 20, 1820, and daughter of John 
and Susannah (Stone) Stewart, both of whom 
emigrated fi'om "the land of steady habits" 
to New York, in an early day, wlien Mrs. 
Vincent was but four years of age. She was 
one of a family of eleven cliihiren, the others 
being — Curtis P., Frederick A., Charles G., 
John W., Noble J., David P.. Mathew J., 
Fannie, Cornelia and Mary A. This marriage 
took place in the county of Chemung, where 
he occupied official position at the time. By 
this union there wei'e born to them four chil- 
dren — Sarah Jane, wife of Tobias Patton, of 
Kingston ; Orlo J., who married Miss Matilda 
Martin ; Charles S., Avhose wife was Miss 
Flora Tolls, both of whom live in the same 
town ; and Jennie, who is the wife of Charles 
Murch, living in Todd county. Mr. Vincent 
is a zealous member of the Methodist Church, 
a class leader, and quite prominent in Sun- 
day-school work, and an excellent, exem- 
plary Christian gentleman. 



"AMES PATTERSON, one of the influen- 
tial farmers of CoUinwood townshijj, 
"having his home on section 10, was born in 
Augusta county, Va., August 13, 1838, and 
is the son of John and Susan (Cameron) Pat- 
terson, both of whom are natives of the same 
locality. His parents were farmers, and he 
resided with them, assisting in the laboi's 
attendant upon that avocation, until he was 
about nineteen j'ears of age, at which time 
he moved into Lawrence county, Ohio, where 
he was employed for about eleven years in 
the Ironton iron furnaces. From there he 
emigrated to Tennessee, but, after two years 
spent in the smelting-works of that region, 
he came to Minnesota and settled in Dassel 
township, this county, from which locality he 
removed to his present farm. 

While a resident of Ironton, Ohio, in April, 
1861, Mr. Patterson enlisted in Company G, 



Second Loyal Virginia Cavalry, and pro- 
ceeded to Parkersburg, W. Va., the rendez- 
vous for organization. He served with his gal- 
lant regiment for three years,and participated 
in many skirmishes and on many a hotly con- 
tested field, both in the Shenandoah Valley 
and around Richmond and Petersburg. He 
was wounded in the battle of Mill Spring, 
N. C, and was discharged from the United 
States service June 30, 1865. 

Mr. Patterson was united in marriage, in 
.January, 1868, with Miss Lucy Lunsford, a 
native of West Virginia, and daughter of 
Reuben and Nancy Lunsford. By this union 
there have been born a family of eleven chil- 
dren, as follows — Alice, born February 14, 
1860; Samuel, born October 13, 1870; Chris- 
tiana, born April 13, 1872; Mar}' Jane, born 
September 12, 1873; William, born, March 
16, 1875; Rachel, born January 20, 1876; 
Lucinda Catherine, born November 20, 1870; 
Elizabeth, born February 17, 1882; Napo- 
leon, born January 8, 1885; and James, born 
December 10, 1887. 



^. 



IMT FN RY R. WILLIAMS, a prominent and 
J&^'rlL intelligent farmer residing on section 
26, Forest Prairie township, was the third 
settler to locate east of Clearwater Lake, 
within the limits of Forest Prairie township, 
having settled there in the fall of 1867. 
Mr. Williams was born in Saratoga county, 
N. Y., on the2-tthof July, 1826, and is a 
son of Lewis and Martha Williams. Their 
])arents were among the earliest settlers at 
what is now Albany, N. Y. Lewis Williams, 
the father, followed lumbering in his early 
days, but the most of his life was devoted 
to farming. He and his wife were exemplary 
citizens and were members of the Methodist 
Church. They had a family of six children, 
three boys and three girls, all of whom re- 
mained in New York State except Henry R. 



4o6 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



The names of the childi-en were Thomas, 
Ileniy II., Moi'gan, ]5etsie, Rebecca, and 
Catherine. 

Our subject, Henry li. Williams, grew to 
manhood in his native county, receiving a 
common school education and aiding his 
father on the farm, and remained in his na- 
tive State until ISC", when l;e came to Meeker 
county, and settled in Forest Prairie town- 
ship, where he has since lived, as above stated. 
He owns a farm of eighty acres and in con- 
nection with general farming he carries on a 
limited stock raising business. Since his res- 
idence here he has taken an active interest 
in public matters, and has been prominently 
identified with the official history of his 
township, having held vai'ious local offices. 
In political matters he affiliates with the 
republican party. 

Mr. Williams was married on the 27th of 
Septenil^er, IS-iT, to Miss Rachel Caroline 
Rouse, a daughter of Grattan and Caroline 
Rouse, and a native of New York State. Her 
parents were natives of the Empire State. 
and were tlie parents of five children, one 
boy and four girls, as follows — Lida, 
Elizabeth, Sarah, Richard and Rachel. 
Mr. and Jlrs Williams have been the par- 
ents of nine chddren, one of whom, Sarah 
Jane, is dead. Those living are Henry 
C, Richard R., Solomon, Franklin, Eliz- 
abeth, Josephine, Martha, and Anna E. Mr. 
and Mrs. Williams are zealous members and 
active supporters of the Methodist Church. 



BAVID MITCHELL. One of the oldest 
of the pioneers of Meeker county, and 
one' of its leading farmers, is the gentlenuui 
whose name heads this .sketch. He came 
hereabout July 1, ]85(). and took a claim on 
the land where he now lives, on section 1.5, 
Forest City townshi]). On the 160 acres 
upon which he originally settled he has made 



all of the improvements, which are of a su- 
perior class. 

David Mitchell first saw the light in Troy, 
Waldo county. Me., October 25, 1 832, and is 
the son of David •and Sarah (Thoni])son) 
Mitchell. He was reared in the '■ Pine Tree 
State," receiving his education at Bradley, 
Penobscot county, in the tlistrict schools of 
that village. At the age of sixteen years he 
adopted a seafaring life, and spent four years 
in the coasting trade and the West India 
traffic. Abandoning the vicissitudes of the 
sea, he engaged in milling on the noble Pe- 
nobscot river, which he followeil for about 
two years, after which he removed to Min- 
nesota, and settled in Meeker county, as 
above mentioned. 

Mr. Mitchell was here during the tragic 
scenes of the Indian outbreali and massacre, 
and was at woi'k on the stockade on the day 
the Indians made the attack on Forest City. 
After remaining until after the attack upon 
the stockade, he removed to Clearwater, 
where he remained some eighteen months. 
This and some few months* absence in Col- 
oi'ado, constitute all the time spent by him 
out-of this county since first settling here. 
He is one of few of the pioneers of Meeker 
county that have not been swept off by the 
scythe of Time, and has always occupied a 
prominent place in the respect and esteem of 
his fellow-citizens. Although a republican in 
principles, and constant in the discharge of 
his duties as a citizen, he has had no political 
aspii'ations, and has never filled any other 
office than that of school director, which he 
held for seven or eight years. 

Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage, 
March 16, 1851, with Miss Belinda Ander- 
son, a native of Montville, Waldo county, 
Me., who died May 3, 1884, after a brief ill- 
ness. She was the mother of seven chil- 
dren — ^'iola M., Mrs.Charles Boone, of Brown 
count3% Dak. ; George IL, who mai'ried Miss 
Emma Spaulding, and is living at Forest 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



407 



City ; Ida, Mrs. Charles H. Atkinson, of For- 
est City ; Edith, Mrs. Eice Gordon, living at 
the same place ; Oscar T. and Oro T., twins, 
now in Dakota ; and Grace, living at home. 
All the children were born in this county, 
witli the exception of the two eldest. 



kTTO DERSCH, one of Grove City's 
\^>/ live business men,is engaged in the sale 
of farm machinery, and in running the meat 
market and feed store. He is the son of 
Otto and Elizabeth Dersch, natives of Ger- 
many, and was born in Germany while his 
parents were coming in search of fortune to 
America. The date of his advent was Feb- 
ruary 19, 18.50. 

The parents settled in Washington county, 
Minnesota, on reaching tiie United States, 
where the young Otto received his education 
in the district schools, until old enough to 
learn a trade, and there his parents died. 
He commenced life by leai'ning the black- 
smith trade with William Post, with whom 
he remained two years and nine months, 
after which he worked nine months in the 
Monitor Plow Works at Minneapolis. En- 
tering the machine shops of the St. Paul & 
Duluth Eailroad, Mr. Dersch followed his 
trade for two years more, after which he 
ran a locomotive engine for nearly a year. 
At the expiration of that engagement he 
came to Afton township, Washington county, 
and for eighteen months worked at the 
smith's trade for Getchell & Co., in their saw- 
mill. After that he followed his business on 
his own account in various places, doing a 
little farming at times in connection with 
his craft. Coming then to this county, after 
farming for a while he removed to Grove 
City, and, putting up a dwelling and a 
smithy, followed the trade for three years, 
during which time he was the partner of 
Hover Mickelson in the saw-mill. At the 



close of the third year he sold his interest in 
the mill, rented his shop, and established his 
present business, he having for some time 
back handled agricultural implements. Since 
then he has added the other branches of the 
business and is one of the leading business 
men of the village. He has held the office of 
city marshal and been a member of the vil- 
lage council, and is in his politics a stanch 
republican. 

Mr. Dersch has been twice married, the 
first time to Miss Louisa Brauer, November 
18, 1873. She was the daughter of John and 
Louisa Brauer, and a resident of Washington 
county. She died July 2, 1880, leaving three 
chddren — Josephine, born June 24, 1874; 
William, born May 6, 1876, and Hubert, born 
January 29, 1879. His second marriage 
occurred January 16, 1881, at which time he 
wedded Miss Maria Muhly, daughter of 
Henry and Maria Muhly, who has borne him 
three children — Arthui', whose birth took 
place April 23, 1883 ; Lydia, born January 
4, 1886, and Adeline, born February 17. 1888. 



spHRISTlAN L. HANSON, a successful 
and enterprising farmer and stock- 
raiser, residing on section 4, Danielson, is 
one of the pioneers of the township in which 
he lives. He is a son of Hans and Anna 
(Arnson) Christianson, and was born on the 
7th of November, 1833. His mother died in 
1838, and his father, who was born in 1802, 
married Hannah Nelson in 1839; the father 
died January 28, 1878. Christian remained 
on the farm with his father in Denmark 
until he was twenty-four years of age, Avhen 
he went to Nakskon, Denmark, a cit}^ of 
about 5,000 population, where he rented 
property and engaged in the business of 
brewing malt-beer, and also keeping a 
restaurant. In addition to this he rented a 
small farm adjoining the city, and followed 



40 8 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



these combined lines of business for eight 
years, when he sold cut. On tlie 7th of 
November, 1860, he was married to Miss 
(lena Hanson, a daughtei' of Ilaiis C. and 
Christianna Hanson, who was burn December 
15, 1833. 

On March 28, 18t>6. Mr. Hanson, with his 
family, started for tiie United States, and, 
when they were about lialf way across the 
ocean, cholera broke out on board the ship, 
and about 300 persons died, Mr. Hanson 
losino- two of his cliildren and a liired man, 
from the (h-ead disease. When the vessel 
got near Neu^ York they were quarantined, 
and were not allowed to land, until the 
28th of May. Upon landing, a man who 
could talk the Dane language, apjiroached 
Mr. Hanson, and stated, that he would attend 
to shipping their goods to Minnesota. The 
goods were never heard of afterward, and 
it was a very severe loss to Mr. Hanson, as 
he had an abundance of household goods. 
He afterward corresponded with the consuls 
from Norway and Denmark, but to no avail. 
From New York the family proceeded to 
Faribault, Minn., where Mr. Hanson left 
them, while he traveled about in search of a 
suitable location. Finally, on the 6th of 
July, he settled upon a homestead on section 
4, in Danielson towmshij). Meeker county, 
Minn., where he has since lived. He erected 
the second frame house in the township, 
hauling his shingles and flooring from St. 
Cloud. He now owns one of the finest farms 
in the township, and has splendid building 
improvements, besides a beautiful grove of 
four acres of his own planting. ]\Ir. Hanson 
has taken an active interest in all matters 
affecting the welfare of the township, and 
has held a great many local offices of impor- 
tance, including those of school director, 
township supervisor, treasurer, road overseer, 
etc. He has always filled every position, to 
which his fellow-citizens have called him, 
with credit to himself and satisfaction to all 



concerned. In iiolitical matters, he does not 
follow the dictates of any party, but acts in 
an indepentlent manner. 

The marriage of Mr. and ]\rrs. Hanson lias 
been blessed with the following named chil- 
dren—Matilda S. (who died April 21, 1866, 
on board ship) was born ]\ray 5, 1862; 
Francena D., born August 1, 1S(!3; Arnt 
Peter (wiio also died on board siiip, April 
19, 1866), born February 5, I860 ; Arnt P. 
H., born November 13, 1866, died June 16, 
1868 (the first death in the township) ; Arnold 
P. E., born December 1, 1868; Tilda Celui, 
born July 31, 1871 ; William M., born May 
24, 1873; and Levi Benjamin, born April 
27, 1875. 

■ < »■ • 



^M UGUST SALLBERG, one of the most 
jp>-J^ enterprising and energetic merchants 
and business men of Dassel, is a native of 
Sweden, born in the parish of Norungo, 
Vestagotlilund, Januai'y 13, 1845. He was 
reared upon a farm in his native land until 
he was some eighteen years of age, and aftei- 
that followed railroading in the old countr\', 
but emigrated to America in 1869, and cam& 
directly to Minnesota and for a time worked 
on the railroad. Later on, he commenced 
doina: contract work wdiich he followed until 
1871, at which time he entered a clothing- 
store in St. Cloud, as salesman. He followed 
the profession of clerk there for over a year, 
and then went to St. Paul and traveled for a 
wholesale clothing house of that city, 
throuo-h northern Iowa and Minnesota. 
With them he remained five years, and 
then for three years represented a Chicago 
clothing firm upon the road. In October, 
1880, he purchased the general stock of mer- 
chandise of Kudberg Bros., and soon after 
moved to Dassel and took charge of the 
business. In February, 1883, the building 
in wliicii he was, was destroyed by fire, and 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



409 



he immediately put up the handsome briclc 
building where he is now located, which is 
20x120 feet in size, two stories high, and 
erected at a cost of $10,000. He moved 
into this fine edifice September 5, following 
the fire. For a number of years he was 
largely interested in theDassel elevator, and 
at another time owned and carried on a 
lai'ge farm in the neighborhood, but has 
abandoned all outside speculations, confining 
himself wholly to his mercantile business. 

Mr. Sallberg has been twice married. The 
first time, December 15, 1875, he was united 
with Miss Jennie Kline, of St. Paul, who 
died January 22, 1885, leaving two chil- 
dren — Arthur Julian and Emil Robert. 
May 3, 1886, Mr. Sallljerg wedded ]\Irs. Jo- 
anna Rudberg, the widow of Jonas lludberg, 
a history of whom appears elsewhere. By 
this marriage they have one child — Jen- 
nie I. 

Mr. Sallberg is a Christian gentleman, an 
active member of the Lutheran Church, and 
an admh-able citizen and receives the highest 
meed of respect from all. 



PETER E. HANSEN, of Litchfield, a pio- 
neer of Meeker county, and one of 
the most prominent citizens in this part of 
the State, is a native of Sweden, born on the 
12th of June, 1815. Ilis parents were Plans 
and Betsy Peterson, both natives of the same 
country. They came to America in company 
with about 150 others of the same national- 
ity, and landed in New York on the 4tli of 
July, 1857. From there tliey pursued their 
journey westward to Minnesota, coming by 
way of Dunleith, 111., tiien the terminus of 
the railway lines, and Dubuque, Iowa. Thej' 
stopped for about one month at Carver, 
Minn., where a full outfit of oxen, wagons 
and other supplies was purchased, and came 
on, stopping briefly at Glencoe, Hutchinson 



and Greenleaf, and finally arrived at Lar- 
son's Grove, in what is now Litchfield town- 
ship. Meeker county, Minn. There they re- 
mained about two weeks, and the men made 
exploring trips in search of land. The bulk 
of the original party that left the old country 
settled in various other counties in the North- 
west, while about fifty found homes in 
Meeker county, mostly in Swede Grove 
township. Among the number who were 
members of the party who found homes in 
Meeker county, were the following — Bengt 
Hansen, J. Larson, Nels Larson, Hogan Pe- 
terson, Andrew Peterson, Nels Hansen, Ole 
Nelson, Peter Larson, Andrew Larson, Nils 
Clemens, Nils Elofson, Andrew Elofson. 
Peter Elofson, Nils H. Peterson and Peter 
H. Peterson. 

Hans Peterson, the father of Peter E. 
Hansen, found land that suited him, and took 
a preemption on section 29, in Swede 
Grove township, where he began improve- 
ments, and where the familj^ lived in quiet, 
contentment and prosperity until the terrible 
massacre of 18G2. Something of the disad- 
vantage under which these Swedish j^ioneers 
labored may be understood when it is stated 
that not a man in the colony could speak 
English, and they were totally ignorant of 
American customs or manners. The Han- 
sen familj^ or rather Hans Peterson's family, 
moved onto their claim on the 3d of August, 
1857, and their first move was to ]iut up a 
shed, which was constructed of jioles laid 
from tree to tree, thereby making a frame- 
work. Instead of covering this with hay 
ami matting it down, so as to shed watei-, the 
father directed that it be covered with brush. 
Of course, whenever it rained, the family 
would Ije di'enched and nearly drowned out. 
When this occurred the father would direct 
the boys to ]mt on more brush, and it would 
accordingly be piled on, but to no avail, how- 
ever. A little later a stable was built, with 
the framework arranged like a pyramid, into 



410 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



which the family was moved, and which did 
very well for a time. The most of the trad- 
ing, botli as to himl)ei'an(l pi'ovisions, atthat 
time, was done in St. Paul or Miimeapolis, as 
the trading post at Forest City was then a 
small aifair, as one old settler puts it, " the 
whole stock of goods could be loaded on a 
wheelbarrow." An old second-hand stove 
had been purchased by Mr. Peterson, but he 
had been unable to secure but cue leugth of 
pipe, so after a little perplexing study, a 
hollow log was substituted and thus the pro- 
per lengtli of pi])e was secured. When this 
got dry and well-seasoned, however, it took 
fire, thereby creating much excitement and 
leaving them in the same ]iredicament as be- 
fore. This was remedied, however, and mat- 
ters again ran smooth. As cold weather ap- 
proached, in the fall of 1857, a cellar was 
dug about forty feet square, but as no frame- 
work could be secured, jilanks were laid over 
the top, and it was covered with gravel and 
earth. Then the question arose as to how^ 
the " dug out " sliould be lighted, and finally 
a little framework was constructed overhead 
in which were set panes of glass. This did 
very well for a time, but when snow came 
and covered it up, the dogs, wliicli the family 
kept, fell through the window. When it 
rained the water soaked right through, as 
the roof was flat, anil it was necessary to 
keep all the clothes and perishable gooils in 
barrels to prevent them fi'om being ruined. 
A short time later, however, they put in plank, 
and otherwise improved the condition of 
things, and thus they occupied the " cellar" 
for about three years, or until in 1S(!(I, when 
they procured lumber from a saw-mill which 
hiul been started in what is now Acton town- 
ship, and with this they completed a house, 
into which they moved and lived for aixtut 
two years, in ]oeace and prosperity. 

During this time there were but few, if 
any, new settlers. There were many Indians 
roving through the country, and in camp 



near the cabins of the settlers, and the pio- 
neers were constantly trading back and forth 
with them. They were always friendly, Ijut 
occasionally a little troublesome, on account 
of their begging, and especially their steahng 
propensities, yet as a rule, if the right course 
was followed, stolen goods could generally 
be recovered. Peter Hansen was associated 
with the Indians a great deal. He was an 
inveterate hunter in those days, and became 
noted as a dead shot, and for tiiat matter he 
has maintained his reputation ;ind skill in 
that line to tiu; )iresent day. His relations 
with the Indians were always pleasant and 
friendly until the time of the outbreak. 

On the morning of tlie memorable Sunday 
that inaugurated the carnival of bloodshed — 
the 17th day of August, 18G2— a band of 
fourteen Indians passed the Peterson claim 
on their way to the Manannah woods, and it 
was supposed, from sukscquent develop- 
ments, that they went to murder a man 
against whom they had a gi'udge. Failing, 
however, to find him, they returned, stop- 
ping at Ilogan Peterson's, where they learned 
of the Jones and Riker massacre, and passed 
near the scene of that slaughter, exchanged 
a few shots with some settlers who had gath- 
ered there, and then made their way south- 
westerly to the Minnesota Piver. 

The news of the Jones and Bakci' murders 
s]iread among the settlers lilce wildlire. not- 
withstanding the fact that the country was 
so sparsely settled. On Monday the word 
came to get together and prepare for defense 
or flight, and at Hansen's a few things were 
piled into the wagon, the oxen hitched up, 
and they went to a postofiice on section 33, 
Swede Grove townshiji, where about one 
hundred families had gathered ; but the fear 
had seized all, and they at once proceeded to 
the shores of Lake Ripley, where they 
camped on the night of tiie 18th of August. 
Very few slept that night, as every new 
arrival reported horrible murders and savage 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



411 



atrocities committed by the Indians. The 
next morning they went to Forest City, 
where the families were left. P. E. Hansen 
and his father, accompanied by several 
others, then stalled out to go back to the 
farm for jirovisions. When out a short dis- 
tance they met the remnant of a fleeing 
party, several of whom had been killed and 
mutilated, ami then they realized that an 
Indian outbreak had really been inaug- 
urated, and that the previous killing was not 
an isolated or single case, but was merely 
the beginning of a teiTible warfare on the 
part of the Indians to drive the whites from 
what they considered their hunting grounds. 
The party at once returned to Forest City, 
and a fort was at once built. Provisions 
were scarce, and it was some time before 
any one ventured out in search of any. 
'Peter Hansen, however, with bis gun, man- 
aged to keep his father's and several 
other families, supplied with wild game. 
About a week later a party of eight 
or ten started out for the purpose of 
burying dead and picking up wounded. 
They got as far as Peter Loen's, on sec- 
tion 5, Swede Grove township, fifteen 
miles from Forest City, where they ex- 
changed several shots with Indians, no one 
being hurt, and then turned and came back. 
The next day the "company of forty-one" 
was organized, P. E. Hansen, being among 
the number. After the return of this expe- 
dition to Forest City, they went to work and 
completed the fort, but not a family Jiioved 
into it on that nigiit, all sleeping in the huts 
they had been occupying. During the night 
the Indians made an attack, and every one 
scrambled for the fort itnmediatcly after the 
first volley, some in undress uniform, while 
others were covered with blankets and bed 
cjuilts. The Indians withdrew the following 
morning. After this, for a week or two, 
every one stayed pretty close to the fort. 
Provisions were very scarce ; flour was meted 



out to the various families in equal parts, and 
was worth almost its weight in gold. About 
two weeks after the attack the Hansens 
started one evening for the farm for the pur- 
pose of getting provisions. They fastened 
their oxen, upon reaching the farm, and 
loaded the wagon witli ])rovisions, after 
which, as the father thought there was no 
danger, they went into the bed-room and laid 
down in order to get some rest. Just as 
they were about to fall asleep, they were 
aroused by a frightful crash in the outer 
room. In an instant they were wide awake, 
and as visions of j)ainted, blood-thirsty sav- 
ages flashed through their brains their hair 
stood on end. A moment later they heard 
the welcome " meow " of a cat, and the 
attack was explained, much to their relief. 
The cat, in its attempt to gain admittance, 
had broken through the window. They 
then returned to Forest City, where their 
provisions were divided with their friends, 
and therefore the supply did not last over a 
weeic. In the meantime those coming in 
brought terrible reports of Indian ravages. 
Notwithstanding this fact, the father, Hans 
Peterson, decided to again go to the farm. 
He yoked the oxen, and, taking an old 
double-barreled shot gun, started. He 
found the cattle about the house and salted 
them, thinking their presence was a pretty 
safe indication that that there were no In- 
dians about, as they would stampede at 
sight or smell of a " redskin." He lit a 
lamp in the house and went to work in earn- 
est, and had loaded the wagon nearly full, 
Avhen suddenly he heard the cattle running 
and bellowing. He dashed out and found 
the cattle on the run, and a few moments 
later he heard the Indians yelling about the 
cabin. He kept on in his northeast coui"se, 
and laid all the next day in the Manannah 
woods, and at night made his way back to 
Forest City. There he told the story, and 
for two weeks no further attempt was made 



412 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



by them to reiU'li tlio fanii. At the end of 
that time, Peter Hansen, accompanied by 
several others, again visited the farm by 
nigiit, and found the liouse ])urned to the 
ground, and while there were startled by 
hearing the Indians yelling in the distance. 
They at once took the back track and 
arrived in Forest City before da^'-break, 
having tramped over thirty miles during the 
night. No further trips were made until in 
November, when matters had quieted down 
somewhat. Tlun' then found the cattle all 
right, but tiie Indians had smashed every 
thing in tiie wagon and feasted on the sheep, 
evidently having camped near by for some 
time. The family remaineil at Forest City 
for about three years, and then, in 1865, the 
"Indian war" having closed, they returned 
to Swede Grove township and settled upon a 
homestead, wiiicli the father liad taken on 
section 20. Tiie old folks still live upon the 
place. 

We now take up the personal history of 
Peter E. Hansen. He remained at home 
until the 19th of June, 18()7, when he was 
married to Rachel Halverson. The cere- 
mony was performed at Forest City by 
'Squire James B. Atkinson, and the event 
was heartily celebrated by a large attend- 
ance of friends. Their union has been blessed 
with four children, as follows — Nellie 0., 
born February 3, 1871 ; Harry A., born Feb- 
ruary 8, 1873 ; Jennie F., born August 16, 
1875 ; and Lillie May, born February 5, 1886. 
Mr. Hansen has been successful beyond the 
lot of most men, and is now among the larg- 
est land-owners in the State. He is owner, 
either alone or jointly with a partner, of 
78,000 acres of land, situated in Meeker, 
lienville, Kandiyohi, Stearns, Douglas, Pope 
Grant, Otter Tail and Wright counties, and 
besides has large landed interests in the city 
of Minneapolis and several villages. He is 
one of the directors and also vice president of 
the Meeker County Bank, and holds stock in 



a numl)ei- of local enterprises. In 1880 lie 
was ap])ointed as agent of the Manitoba 
Kailway Company to handle their lands, and 
now has charge of the railroad lands in 
Meeker, Carver, Wright, and Renville coun- 
ties, and part of Stearns county. He 
is also loan agent for the Kelly Brothers, 
of Minneapolis. Mr. Hansen is recognized 
as one of the shrewdest and best busi- 
ness men in this part of the State. He 
has acquired immense property interests, and 
has always taken an active interest in all 
matters calculated to benefit the locality in 
which he lives. Mr. Hansen resides on sec- 
tion 18, Litchfield township, although he 
carries on business in the village ; and his 
residence and farm improvements are among 
the finest to be found anv where in the State. 



— «" 



^ kRRlN WHITNEY. Among the old set- 
V^l^y tiers of Meeker county, who are still 
spared to this world, there is none more 
worthy of mention in a work of this charac- 
ter than the gentleman whose name heads 
this sketch. He came to this county in 
March, 1857, with his brother, A. P. Whit- 
ney, S. B. Hutchins and others, and settled 
at Kingston, where he still lives. He helped 
build the mill |)ut up l)v Whitney, Averill & 
Hutchins, in 1857 and 1858, which was the 
first grist-mill in the county, and from the 
day of his first location here has alwa^'s been 
identified with the onward progress and de- 
velo|mi('nt of this region. 

The subject of this biograpliy was Itorn in 
Somerset county, Me., August 18, 1815, and 
is tlie son of William and Olive (Parlin) 
Whitney, who were natives of Connecticut 
and Massachusetts, respectively. He was 
reared in Penobscot county, in the " Pine 
Tree State," and there received the elements 
of his education. On attaining his majority, 



he commenced farming in his native State. 




•^~.,-v' 







MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



417 



He came to Minnesota in 1857, and as he 
liad a knowledge of mill-wriojitino', liaving 
worked at that business a few years, he helped 
put up the Hennepin Island Mill, tiie first 
grist-mill at Minneapolis. In 1857 he came 
to this county as above mentioned, and has 
been a resident nearly ever since. On his 
arrival in Meeker county, Mr. Whitney pre- 
empted 160 acres of land on section 21, where 
he now lives. In 1861 he went to California, 
where he remained until December, 1864, 
when he returned to this place, which he has 
brought to a high state of cultivation and 
finely improved until it is as desirable a piece 
of property as any in the county. 

Mr. Whitne}' and Miss Rebecca Carvill 
were united in the bonds of mari'iage, March 
10, 1879. His life companion and helpmeet, 
who is a lady of rare accomplishments and 
intelligence, is a native of Lewistoii, Andros- 
coggin county, Me., born December 23, 1827, 
and is the daughter of Sewell and Tama 
(Higgins) Carvill, she being tlie sixth child in 
their family of thirteen. Of them there are 
seven, besides her, still surviving — Submit, 
Mary, Milton, Jefferson, Wesley, Alonzo and 
Alphonso. The latter was a physician, who 
came to Kingston in 1867, and made his home 
here for several yeai's; Jefferson resides in 
Dassel township, this couiity ; most of the 
rest still live in New England. Mrs. Whit- 
ney having received considerable schooling, 
learned the trade of coat-making, at which 
she worked some thirty years. In the spring 
of 1848 she went to Boston, and in that city 
followed her trade twenty-nine years, board- 
ing at one place fourteen years. She has in 
the course of a busy life, with characteristic 
thrift, accumulated a nice property, owning 
as she does the East Kingston Mill, which 
cost her S7,000. 

Mr. Whitney is a greenbackei' in his poli- 
tics and a supporter of the Grange movement. 
Both he and his estimable wife are held in 
high esteem wherever known, and theii-many 



years of residence has made them respected 
and well-known throughout nearly the whole 
county. 

In another department of this Album will 
be found portraits of both Mr. and Mrs. 
Whitney. 



F. PROCTOR. 



Among the 



kfc^ leading citizens of the village of Das- 
sel there is none more prominent than the 
gentleman whose name heads this sketch. 
He is the son of William and Ehoda (Snow) 
Proctor, both of whom were natives of Ver- 
mont, who had gone with their parents into 
the wilds of St. Lawrence county, N. Y., the 
former at the age of twelve years, and the 
latter at the age of seven. There they at- 
tained the years of manhood and woman- 
hood, and were marrietl, and made their 
home. At the time of the Mexican war, 
AYilliam Proctor, being impelled by the 
ardor that dwells in each patriot's breast, 
enlisted in Company D, Ninth United States 
Infantry, and was wounded in one of the 
battles at the gates of the city of Mexico, in 
1847, and died shortly after in the general 
hospital in that ''City of the Montezumas." 
Mrs. Proctor is now making her home with 
her son, Edwin F. 

The subject of our present sketch was 
born at Massena, St. Lawrence county, N.Y., 
in 1840, and made his home in his native 
town until 1855, when he took Horace 
Greeley's advice and moved westward, set- 
tling at Madison, Wis., where he found em- 
ployment in a brickyard. In that city he 
remained until the fall of 186U, when he re- 
moved to Marshall, Wis., and attended school 
that winter. While peacefully pursuing his 
studies, in the eventful spring of 1861, the 
tocsin of war rang out, and thousands of 
hurrying feet j^ressed on to the front of i)at- 
tle in defence of their country, and in res- 



4>8 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



ponse to the call of the General Government 
for troops to suppress the unholy rebellion. 
Mr. Proctor, with the spirit of his noble sire, 
came forward at once, and enlisted in (Jora- 
pany A, Third Wisconsin Infantry, on the 1st 
of April, 1861, for three-months service, but 
was not mustered in under this enlistment. 
On the IStb of April, he enlisted for three 
years or during the war; and on the 21st of 
December, 18fi3, he re-enlisted, in Tennessee, 
as a veteran for three years more, making, 
until his discharge, a term of service of four 
years and four months. In the three-months 
term he had been cor|)oral, but in the spring 
of 1862 he was made duty sergeant, and in 
1864 orderly sergeant. In April, 1865, he 
was duly commissioned second lieutenant 
for gallant and meritorious conduct, and in 
July following, received the rank of first 
lieutenant. During the first part of his term 
of service, he served with his regiment with 
the Armies of the Potomac and of the Shen- 
andoah, and participated in the engagements 
at Bolivar Heights, Winchester, Cedar Moun- 
tain, Antietam, Chancellorville and Beverly 
Ford. The command (Twelfth Corps) to 
which he was then attached, was transferred 
with the Seventh Corps to the WesternArmy, 
and under General Siierman, he was present 
with his regiment, in the thickest of-the con- 
flicts that raged around Atlanta, and 
was actively engaged there, and in the 
subsequent March to the Sea, under that 
matchless General, and in the engagements 
that marked its progress. ■He participated 
in fourteen general engagements in all, and 
was slightly wounded in two battles — Chan- 
cellorville and Antietam. He took part in 
the grand review at Washington, in June, 
1865, after which he received his discharge 
and came home, Cincinnatus like, laying the 
sword down for the plow handle. He came 
to Minnesota, and took u]) a homestead on 
section 4, of the town of Dassel, in the month 
of May, 1869. Upon this place he remained 



engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1885, 
when he traded a portion of his estate for 
his village propertj^, and sold the balance, 
and is now living a retired life, being unable 
])liysically to longer carry on agricultural 
labor. His exposure while in the army, 
brought on rheumatism, from which he has 
never recovered, and for which he now draws 
a small pension, %V1 per month, from the 
government. 

Mr. Proctor and Miss Emeline P. Frost 
were united in marriage Januaiy 18, 1864, 
while he was home on his veteran furlough. 
The lady is a native of Delaware county, 
Ohio, and is the daughter of Alva and Per- 
milla Fi'ost. Her parents came to Ohio in 
1816, and settled in Delaware county. July 
7, 1847, they removed to Dodge county, 
Wis., where they lived until the death of 
Mr. Frost, June 29, 1867. His wife came to 
Minnesota in 1874, and died in this county 
April 6, 1883. 

Mr. and Mrs Proctor are the parents of 
four children — Justin T., Elwin Z., Delia D., 
and Elward J. Elwin died July 19, 1881, 
the rest are living. Mr. Proctor was one of 
the charter members of Colfax Post No. 133, 
G. A. K., Department of Minnesota, and its 
first commander, and is now the quarter- 
master of that post. 



«»► 



/J^THO H. CAMPBELL. Prominent 



among the 



influential, leading citizens 
of Manannah township, and of Meeker coun- 
ty, is Mr. Campbell, of whom this narrative 
IS written. He came to the village of Kings- 
ton in the year 1866, and entered into the 
general merchandise trade in connection with 
Whiting Bros., a Clearwater firm. One 
year later he purchased the interest of his 
partners, and for two years pursued the busi- 
ness alone. At the end of that time he re- 
moved to the new village of Litchfield, and, 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



419 



purchasing the Lake Eipley House, ran the 
hotel for two years, after which, disposing 
of all property in that place, he removed to 
Manannah, and purcliased an interest with 
N. C. Hines in the Hour and grist mill. In 
1877 he became the sole proprietor, since 
which time he has added many im]irove- 
ments. In 1880 he put in steam engine and 
boilers, so that he can run eitlier liy steam 
or water. During 1887 the mill was remod- 
eled, and full sets of rolls jjlaced in it, and it 
now ranks as one of the best in this part of 
the State. 

O. H. Campbell was born in Hartford, 
Conn., August 1, ISi-l, and is the son of 
James and Esther (Griswold) Campbell. The 
father was a native of Vermont, and had 
removed to Connecticut, where he became 
an insurance agent. The mother, who was 
a representative of the noted Griswold fam- 
ily, was a native of Connecticut. 

The subject of our sketch, at the age of 
seventeen, entered an insurance office in his 
native city, where he remained until Septem- 
ber, 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, 
Twenty-Second Connecticut Infantry, and 
served in the Army of the Potomac for some 
ten months, when he was discharged. Dur- 
ing this time the regiment had participated 
in the siege of Suffolk, Va., the capture of 
Forts Huger and Nansemond, where it was 
under fire for two days. This was while it 
was a part of the Twenty-Second Army 
Corps and in Abercrombie's Division. It 
was then sent to West Point, and. under 
General Gordon, maile the advance on Eich- 
mond and the noted Blackberry roa<l. Gn 
its return, its time being out, it was ordered 
home and discharged. 

Gn his discharge, after another year spent 
in tlie insurance l)usincss in Hartford, he 
came out West, and, after one year spent at 
Clearwater, came to Meeker county, lie 
was married April 24, 1867, at Clearwater, 
to Miss Isa Creath, a native of Washington 



county. Me., and daughter of John and Mar- 
garet (Miars) Creath. By this union there 
have been born four children, namely — Ar- 
thur, born March 8, 1SG8 ; Ernest, born No- 
vember 9, 1869; Marian, born May 16,1876; 
and Harry, born August 4, 1879. 

Mr. Campbell has been prominentlj^ iden- 
tified with the official life of the county, hav- 
ing served as chairman of the board of town 
supervisors, as justice of the peace, and in 
the fall of 1887 was only defeated by a small 
majority for the office of State senator. 



EORGE W. CLARK, one of the "brave 
boys in l)lue, " makes his home in 
Collinwood to\\nship, on section 22, and is a 
valued citizen. He is a native of Henry 
count}', Iowa, born December 29, 1843, and 
is the son of John A. and Sarah (Butler) 
Clark, whose birthplace was in Ohio. When 
about four years of age his parents removed 
to Jo Daviess county. 111., where the father 
was emplo3'ed in lead-mining until 1852. 
In April of that year they moved to St. 
Paul, and for two years the father of 
our subject was employed in a lumber 
mill. From there they migrated to Hen- 
derson, Sibley county, and in that place 
made their liome, John Clark being engaged 
in transporting supplies for Indian Agent 
Brown until his death, which occurred Au- 
gust 18, 1857. 

The subject of tiiis memoir commenced 
work, on the death of his father, in the office 
of the Henderson iJemorrat, to learn the 
printers trade. While peacefully following 
the art he had chosen, he heeded the call of 
his country, then in the throes of civil war, 
-and enlisteil in Company I, Eighth Minne- 
sota Infantry, in August, 1862, and partici- 
pated in the expedition under General Sully. 
In the fall of 1864, he was sent South to help 
suppress the rebellion, and the regiment be- 



420 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



came a part of the famous '23d Army Corjis 
under General Scoiicld, and was present at 
many of the conflicts tliat terminated the 
war. He received an honorable discharge in 
1865, and returned iiome, but shortly remov- 
ed to Meeker county, and made a settlement 
in Ellswortli township. He made his home 
there for two years and then purchased 200 
acres of land on the section where he now 
lives, in CoHinwood. 

Mr. Clark was married December 15, 187(3, 
to Miss Sarah Grant, a native of Indiana, 
born in Jennings county, August 31, 1856. 
By this union there has been born six chil- 
dren, of whom the following is the record — 
Willis was born June 2, 1878 ; James was 
born August 16, 1880; Arthur, born July 7, 
1879, and died August 20, following; George 
K., born April 14, 1882 ; Clara J., born Feb- 
ruary 20, 1885 ; and Ida F., was born Decem- 
ber 7, 1887. 

— -«— ^^-»— — 

•^\ W. HAWKINSON, of Grove City. A 
i^ large proportion of the citizens of 
Meeker county are of foreign birth, and are 
men who have brought with them to their 
new home in America the habits of industry 
and thrift so common in their own country, 
and with the chances afforded in the United 
States, have risen by tlieir own efforts 
to an easy competence. Among these is 
Mr. Hawkinson, who was born at the 
home of his parents, William and Ellen 
Hawkinson, in Sweden, November 16, 1840. 
He was reared to maniiood in the land of 
his birth, and there, A))ril 24, 1866, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Hannah Nelson. 
Three years later, leaving his family, he 
came across tlie stormy Atlantic in se;ircli of 
a home in the free land of America, and 
coming at once to Minnesota, located at Cot- 
tage Grove, about fifteen miles from St. 
Paul, where he was engaged in wagon-mak- 
ing until December, 1869, and then came to 




Litchfield, then a new village, just started, 
where he was employed in wagon-making 
and in carpentering until 1870, when, feeling 
assured of the future, he returned to the old 
country for his family, with whom he arrived 
in Litchfield May 15, 1871. He followed his 
trade until the succeeding November, when he 
removed to Swede Grove township, where 
he built him a house on his farm, and lived 
thei'C for two years, renting the land and 
working at carpentering. He then com- 
menced farming himself, and at odd times 
pursued his trade, and in this manner put in 
his time for five years more. During this 
time he had erected, for C. E. Lundberg, an 
elevator of 60,000 bushels capacity, which, 
when he had finished, he took charge of for 
the owner, and operated for seven years. 
The most of this time he made his home upon 
his farm, driving in and out each morning 
and evening. B}' this time he had ac(juired 
some 280 acres of land, but in 1881 he built a 
house in the village and managed his farm 
by hired help. In the fall of 1886 he gave 
up running the elevator, and engaged in the 
business of selling lumber, farm machinery, 
wagons, buggies, paints, oils, etc., in com- 
pany with B. Bresden. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hawkinson are the parents 
of five children — Andrew, Nels, Alfred, El- 
mer and Minnie. The eldest, Andrew, is a 
graduate of the Northwestern College at 
Minneapolis. In politics Mr. Hawkinson is 
a stanch adherent to the principles of the re- 
publican party. 

I^REDERICK SPATH, living on section 
^IFS^ 10, Dassel township, is one of the 
leading farmers of that section of the 
county. He is a native of Wiirtemberg, Ger- 
many, born Felu'uary 11. 1825, an<l the son 
of ^N'illiani an<l Catherine Spath, both of 
whom are also natives of the German 
Em]>ire. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



421 



Frederick, at the age of sixteen years left 
the fatherland for America, and on his arri- 
val in Philadeli)hia, Pa., commenced learn- 
ing the blacksmith trade in that city. He 
remained there until 1856, at which date he 
came to Minnesota, and settled in Hennepin 
county, and opened a blacksmith shop, about 
seven miles north of Minneapolis. About a 
year later he removed to Anoka county, 
among the earliest pioneers of that section, 
and preempted a farm in the town of Bethel. 
There he made his lionie until 1864. During 
the Indian outbreak of 1862, much excite- 
ment was felt in that county and most of 
the settlers left the town. Mrs. Spath kept 
her children dressed and ready to start at a 
moment's warning for tliree days and nights, 
while waiting for news of the appeai'ance 
of the savages, who never came. The 
trouble died out and people soon came back 
to their homes, there as elsewhere. In 1864 
Mr.Spath came toKingston,this county, where 
he opened a blacksmith shop, and continued 
to follow that calling for two years in that 
place. In 1866 he removed to the town of 
Dassel, then known as Swan Lake, and took 
a homestead of eighty acres of land in sec- 
tion 10, where his family lived nine years. 
He worked for a while on the construction 
of the railroad, and on the laying out of 
the village of Dassel opened a smithy in that 
place. His family moved into the latter in 
1875, where thev all remained until 1881, 
when he sold out his interests and returned 
to the farm, which is now increased to 120 
acres, more than half of it under a high state 
of cultivation, and upon which he has erect- 
ed some fine buildings. On the organization 
of the town in 1867, he \vas appointed one 
of the town supervisors, and the following- 
year was chairman of the board. He was, also, 
one of the first village trustees and held 
that office for three years consecutively. 

Mr. Spath was married in the city of 
Philadelphia, September 10, 1849, to Miss 



Catherine Pliipps, a native of Philadelphia. 
Bj^ this union there have been born six chil- 
dren, namely — William, Jiving in Dakota; Ka- 
tie, Mrs.John Bunker,of the village of Dassel; 
Fi"ank P, who is carrying on the blacksmith 
trade in the same village ; Susan, Mrs. M. 
Penny, of Dassel township; Fred P. and 
Sarah, at home. 



^1 ILAS W. LEAVITT, one of the lead- 
"^^^ ing citizens of the village of Litchfield, 
is a native of Giimanton, N. IL, born in 1848, 
and is a son of Joseph S. and Hannah 
(Cotton) Leavitt. He remained at home with 
his parents until he had attained the age of 
seventeen years, when he enlisted in August, 

1863, in Company A, Fifteenth New Hamp- 
siiii-e Infantry, and with that gallant regi- 
ment served one year. He participated in 
the siege and capture of Port Hudson, and 
was discharged with the regiment in October, 

1864. For the two years following he was 
compelled to suffer much from a disease of 
the eyes contracted while in the service. 
Becoming able to use his eyes he went to 
Dover, in the same State, where he remained 
a 3'ear. From there he moved to Boston, 
and for three years was engaged in clerical 
labor in that city. Following the advice of 
Horace Greeley, he then came West, and for 
some time was prospecting through the 
country. After looking the State over, Mr. 
Leavitt decided to locate in Meeker county, 
and, in 1868, purchased a farm in the town 
of Greenleaf, where he made his home until 
the fall of 1871, when, being elected to the 
office of clerk of the district court, he re- 
moved to the village of Litchfield. For 
twelve successive years he filled that respon- 
sible ]iosition with the utmost credit, and de- 
clined a fourth re-election. During most of 
this time he was also engaged in the lumber 
business in Litchfield. Mr. Leavitt was 



422 



MEEKER COUNTY. MINNESOTA. 



elected president of the board of education of 
tlic village, in September. ISSO, :ind still fills 
that office. (_)n the organization of Com])anj 
H, First Eegiment, Minnesota National 
Guards, in February, 1883, he was elected cap- 
tain, and has served his full term of five 
3'ears, but at the solicitation of the company 
still remains in command. At the close of 
his time he tendered his resignation, but the 
company unanimously rejected it, and as a 
testimony of their appreciation of his services 
they ]>resented him with a very handsome 
eold watch aaid chain. On the formation of 
the creamery association, Mr. Leavitt was 
elected secretary and general manager of tiiat 
institution, and has charge of that business 
at the present. 

Our subject was mai'ried in August, 1866, 
to Miss Mary D. Chapman, a native of 
"Worcester, Mass., and l)y this union there has 
been born two children — Grace W., and 
Marian II. 



-«" 



*,BERT HUTCHINS, a young and 
enterprising farmer, of Collinwood 
township, was born in Yanc}' county, N. C, 
the 27th of May, 1849, and is the son of Jacob 
and Nancy (Buchanan) llutchins. His father 
was born in Berks county, N. C, June 19, 
181-1, and is the son of AYright and Margaret 
Hutchins. The mother was born in the 
same county April 19, 1814. Jacob Hutchins 
remained in the county of his birth until he 
was aiKjut thirty years old, engaged in farm- 
ing, but, in the spring of ISl-f, movetl to 
West Virginia, and there made his home 
until 1864, at Avliich date he came to Collin- 
wood and settled on a homestead on section 
8. In 1879 he gave the place to his son, 
with whom he lives. He was inarried in 
1835 to Miss Nancy Buchanan, by whom he 
had fourteen children, namely — Anna, Louisa, 
Sarah, Mary, Thomas, Margaret, Elizabeth, 



William, Albert, John, George, Oliver, 
Jennie, and Cynthia. 

Albert was married September 12, 1880, 
to Miss Theresa Erfurth, who was l)orn in 
Ohio. May 9, 1859, and is the daughter of 
Edward and Johanna Ei-furth. They are 
the parents of three children, all of whom 
are dead. They were Arthur, born August 
5, ISSl, died May 18, 1887 ; Michael, born 
September 15, 1883, and died May 12, 1887; 
and Milton, born May 8, 1885, and died May 
18, 1887. Albert has made his home with 
his parents all his life, and for fifteen 
years has been the main support of 
his family. His mother died August 19, 
1881. Jacob Hutchins Ijuilt the first house 
in the township, and was the first school 
treasurer. The farm contains al)out 116 
acres of fine land, of which eiglitv are under 
cultivation. The improvements are of a 
very fair character, and the whole place 
evinces that the young farmer understands 
his business and is in a prosperous condition. 



Ft MBROSE WALL, the present audi- 
jp'^ tor of Meeker county, is a native 
of Cayuga county, N. Y., born December 7, 
1852,and is the son of Michael and Alice (Dee) 
Wall. He was reared in the county of his 
birth, and received his primary education in 
the common schools of that district, which was 
sup]Jemented by two tei'ms jiassed at Port 
Byron Academy. His occupation during all 
this time was farming, he assisting his father, 
for a tnne, and afterward working for other 
parties as opportunit}' served. 

In the fall of 1879, Mr. Wall came to Min- 
nesota and located in Stearns county, where 
he taught school that winter, but the follow- 
ing spring came to Meeker county and pur- 
chased a farm on section 26, Manannah 
townshi]). Here he commenced the avoca- 
tion of western farmer, for which his train- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



423 



iiig in the Empire State liad so well fitted 
him. He maile that place his home, carry- 
on the tillage of the soil \\\ the summer, and 
"teaching the young idea how to shoot" in 
the various district schools of tlie county 
during the winter months. On the initiation 
of the Farmers' Alliance movement in 1S85, 
he adopted their views and principles, believ- 
ing them to be for the best intei'ests of the 
working classes, and a step in the direction 
of personal liberty and enfranchisement. 

In the fall of 188(3, Mr. Wall was nomi- 
nated for the office of auditor on the alliance 
and democratic tickets, and carried ofl" the 
honors of the campaign with a handsome 
majority. He is the present secretary of the 
Meeker County Farmers' Alliance, is inde- 
pendent of party lines, in political faith being 
of decidedlj' anti-monopolistic tendency, and 
is a bright and intelligent leader in the new 
movement, looking to the elevation of the 
auriculturists and laboring classes. 



fOHN CHRISTENSEN, one of the promi- 
nent merchants of Grove City, and a 
member of the firm of Reitan &Christensen, 
general merchandise dealers, is a native of 
Norway, and the son of Haider and Karen 
Marie (Hebgh) Christensen. The date of 
his birth was January 31, 1834. He re- 
mained in the land of his nativity, where he 
secured his education, until November 2, 
1867, when he made his appearance in 
Meeker countv, having emigrated from his 
boj'hood's home in search of fortune and a 
competence. With him came his brother, 
Carl, who was born January 2(3, 1837. 

Carl Christensen married September 17, 
1870, Miss Ellen Olava Gronseth, who 
became the mother of five children — Haider, 
born July 1, 1871 ; Otto G., born May 15, 
1873; Andrew Christian, born June 6, 1875; 
William Martin, born October 22, 1877 ; and 



Carl John Henry, born March 2, 1880. Carl 
foUowed farming after coming to this 
country, until December 22, 1879, when he 
died, since which time John Christensen has 
taken care of his bereaved family. 
• John Christensen was totally unacquainted 
with farm work when he came here, but 
helj)ed iiis brother for some time on the 
hitter's place, but its monotony tiring hira, 
in 1870 he entered the store of Mr. Brown, 
in Litchfield, as a clerk, with whom he 
stayed over a year. He then kept a board- 
ing house for the men who were working on 
the railroad construction. In about 1872 he 
purchased a farm, adjoining that of his 
brother, and from that year, until 1875, he 
was with his brother, they working the farms 
together. At the expiration of that time he 
came to Grove City, and was a clerk in the 
store of W. W. Hobbs, until the death of 
that gentleman in December, 1876, after 
which he entered the store of H. O. Peter- 
son, and stayed with that gentleman until 
April, 1877, when our subject went to the 
Black Hills, where he remained until the 
following fall, returning to Grove City in 
September. Again entering the employ of 
H. O. Peterson, as clerk in his store, he 
there continued, both with him and with the 
succeeding firm of Peterson, Dudley & Nel- 
son, until May, 1S82, when he became a 
clerk in the store of C. C. Eeitan, and Octo- 
ber 1, 1883, became a partner with that 
gentleman, and the present firm formed. 



AMES LANG, one of the old settlei's of 
^ Manannah township, and the merchant, 
postmaster and hotel proprietor of the village 
of Manannah, is a son of James and Mar- 
garet (Leech) Lang, natives of Scotland, who 
were married in that land of heather and 
emigrated to the United States about 1822, 
settling in Vermont. About a year later 



424 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



they removetl to Canada wliere tliev both 
died, the fatlier in 188<'>, tlie iiiotlier in 
1847. 

The subject of our sketcli was born in La- 
Prairie county, Canada, December 2(i, 1838, 
and remained at home with Ins parents until 
1857, when at the age of eighteen years he 
came to tlie " States " with his brother Rob- 
ert, wlio had been here the year previous, 
and settled in this counts', where he lived, on 
section 18, Harvey township, for some years. 
He went to work putting up a cabin, and 
breaking up the prairie sod with a yoke of 
oxen. In the fall of 1857 he built a house 
upon tlie site of the village, in company with 
Robert Lang and S. Dickinson, and for two 
years lived there during the winter months, 
and upon his farm in the summer. From 
that time on he made his home upon the 
homestead until the Indian outbreak in 1862. 
On that eventful Sunday, Mr. Lang and sev- 
eral other parties started for Forest City 
with the intention of enlisting, but hearing 
of the murders in Acton, they suspended 
action, waiting more definite news. Hear- 
ing that some Indians had been seen going 
toward Manannah, they returned speedily, 
he remaining until the following Wed- 
nesday, when all the settlers left, as it was 
unsafe to remain. At Kingston he heard of 
the organization of Captain Whitcomb's com- 
pany of Home Guards, and with others came 
and enlisted in that company. AVith them 
he jiarticipated in all the movements as de- 
tailed in the chapter devoted to the massa- 
cre in this volume. He it was, who was 
riding with Mr. Britt, when their horses were 
stuck in the slough. As he got out of the 
slough, he was some eighty rods behind the 
party, and he had to run for his life. 
When he saw that the teams had gone on 
and left him, he laid down to pull otf his 
shoes, and the Indians thinking they ha<l 
killed him, stopped to get the horee. Start- 
ing to run, three savages pursued him on 



their ponies, but tlie wagon waited for him. 
and it is said that the Sioux ponies did not 
gain on him in his race for life. 

Mr. Lang remained with this company 
until it was disbanded and during that win- 
ter followed trapping and hunting. In March, 
1863, he enlisted m Company C, First Minne- 
sota Mounted Rangers, and served in the 
West with them until their discharge in the 
fall of 1863. In August. 186-4, Mr. Lang 
again enlisted, this time in the Second United 
States Sharpshooters, which were attached 
to Colonel Berdan's famous regiment, and 
joined the Army of the Potomac, in front of 
Petersburg, Va., and were assigned to the 
Third Division of the noble Second Corps. 
He was under lire for the first time in this 
company at the second battle of Hatchers 
Run, and served until the close of the 
war. 

On receiving his dischai'ge and pay about 
which there was some trouble owing to "red 
tape," our subject returned to Meeker county, 
where he has made his home ever since. He 
was married, March 29, 1870. to Miss Juliet 
Murray, a native of Waukesha county. Wis., 
and daugiiter of John Murray, of that place. 
By this union there have been born a family 
of four children — Lily M., Mary J. and 
James A., all living, and Lizzie, deceased. 

In the spring of 1875 Mr. Lang, in com- 
pany with A. P. Grey, bought out the store 
of Hines & Campbell, and for four yeai-s ran 
it in partnership, but since that time has 
been carr\'ing it on alone. He was appointed 
postmaster in 1881, and still holds that office. 
He has served some six years on the school 
board, and is regarded as one of the leading 
citizens and representative men of the county. 
No man has been more prominently identified 
with the development of the nortliern part 
of the county or figures more conspicuously 
in its history, and both he and his estimable 
wife merit and receive the highest esteem of 
all. Through his many years' residence here 




V'***'f^'^ -vVj- ^ 




OU^U^^y^ 





^ 



2<2/ 




{^-T-T-Z-^yi- 




MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



429 



Mr. Lang has become well-known to nearly 
all the old settlers of Meeker county. lie is 
a man of the strictest honor and integrity, 
and his word is recognized as being as good 
as a bond. 

Elsewhere in tiiis volume will be found 
portraits of both Mr. Lang and his wife. 



X ? T aRLOW F. AMES came to Dassel 
JKL township, with his brother Henry, in 
January, 1868, and settled on the farm his 
father had bought, where he remained until 
his parents came, in the following spring. 
He is a native of Oswego county, N. Y., born 
June 4, 1850, and is the son of Harlow and 
Adeline (Mitchell) Ames. In 1872 he com- 
menced the mason's trade, at which he has 
worked for a portion of the time ever since. 
He has now a line farm of 100 acres of land 
in Dassel township, on section 23, where he 
carries on agriculture. He was united in 
marriage, December 31, 1873, with Miss Flor- 
ence Carr, a native of Washington county, 
Ind., and daughter of Elisha and Isabel 
(] )enny ) Carr. Ey this union there have been 
Ijorn three children — Leroy, Edith and Josie. 

Harlow Ames, who is ranked among the 
most substantial citizens of Dassel township, 
is the father of the subject of the above 
sketch. He is a native of Delaware county, 
Conn., born July 8, 1804, and is the son of 
Leonard and Minerva (Peck) Ames. His 
parents removed to Oswego county, N. Y., 
and settled near the town of Mexico, at an 
early day, among the pioneers of that region, 
where they made their home until they passed 
to their " chamber in the silent realms of 
death." They were consistent members of 
the Methodist Church, and the first religious 
services in that district were held in a sheep- 
pen, a log shanty on the farm of the elder 
Mr. Ames, which had been fitted up for the 
purpose. 

Harlow remained at home until about fif- 



teen years of age, at which time he com- 
menced to learn the tanner's and the shoe- 
maker's trades, which avocations he followed 
until above thirty years of age. He then 
purchased a farm in Oswego county, and 
remained upon it over thirty years, and then 
sold out and moved into the village of Mex- 
ico, but after a residence of two years, being 
tired of an inactive life, came to Minnesota 
in search of a home. Previous to leaving New 
York he met Edwin Ayres and C. L. Pich- 
ardson, who had settled in Meeker county in 
1856, and taken up claims on section 14, in 
Dassel township, from which they had been 
driven by the Indians. He purchased from 
them their farm, which contained some 
509 acres, with the additions which he made 
to it, and returned to New York, and sent 
his two sons out to occupy it. The following 
spring he followed with his family, and put up 
the first frame dwelling in the town. He has 
resided here ever since, and now has one of 
the finest farms in this part of the county. 

Mr. Ames was united in marriage, August 
10, 1834, with Miss Martha Hubbard, who 
died in 1844, leaving four children — Horace, 
now in Washington Territory; Charlotte, 
Mrs. Isaac Russell, of Dassel; Edward, a 
resident of Washington Territory ; and Julia, 
the wife of W. M. Abbott, of Forest Prairie, 
this county. Mr. Ames, November 21, 1845, 
again contracted a matrimonial alliance, this 
time with Miss Adeline Mitchell, who is the 
mother of two children — Henry and Harlow 
F. The former is engaged in the manufact- 
ure of brick near Litchfield, and the latter's 
sketch is given above. 

/^HARLES H. BIGELOW, the enterpris- 
>^y ing dealer in confectionery, books, sta- 
tionery, and fancy goods in the village of 
Litchfield, is the son of Harvey and Maria 
(Van Buskirk) Bigelow, and was born at 
Rush, Monroe county, N. Y., October 5, 



430 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



1853. His ))iirents \ver« both nutivcs of tlie 
Ein])ire St;ite, altliouyli liis jjatenitil gruncl- 
I'iilhcr came originally from Connecticut, and 
was one of a noted and liistoi'ic family tliei'e. 

The subject of this sketch was reai'cd 
amid tiic familiar scenes of his childiiood and 
received his education in the excellent schools 
of his native state. At the age of lifteen 
he commenced to learn the cai-riiige and 
wagon nudving trade, iind after finisliing 
that took up carpentering wliich he foHowed 
for some two years. In I'Vl)i'uary, l>i7<>. he 
went to Louisville, Ky., where he entered 
the emi)loy of I>. F. Avery & Sons, one of 
the large plow manufacturing concerns of 
tins country. He remained witii tliis lii'iii 
until 187S, when he came to Litchiield, imd 
after looking around a little counni^nced 
farming in the town <;f Greenleaf, on ;i lai'in 
which he rented of his wife's father. In 
January, 1880, he came back to the village 
of Litchiield, and initiated his present busi- 
ness. He has always filled an im])ortant 
place in the community anil I'eceives the 
respect and esteem of all. In November, 
1883, he became deputy auditoi', and ful- 
filled the duties of that office until A])ril, 
1887. - In 1880 he was village recorder, in 
1887 chief of tli(> lire dcpiniment, and is the 
])res('nt first lieutenant of the local militia 
company. In his political views he coincides 
with the re]>id)lican party, and, religiously, is 
a member of the Presbyterian Cliurch. of 
which he is one of the trustees. He is a 
member of Golden Fleece Lodge, A. F. & A. 
M., of Itabboni Chapter, Iv. A. M., of Melita 
Comnuinder\\ K, T., and of Fuielity Chapter, 
East(!rn Stiir. 

Mr. Bigelow was united in nuu'riage, Sep- 
tember 28, 187C, with Miss Frances K. Wianl, 
a native of Livingston county, N. Y., and 
daughter of Edward and Charlotte Wiard. 
By this union there are three children — 
Harvey Edward, Frederick, and Lydia 
Alice. 



/^•V P H R A IM A. BRIGGS. Prominent 
\i!_^ among the successful business men of 
Meeker county, men who have by their own 
ability and tact, acquired an ample fortune, 
stands the subject of this memoii-. His life 
has been a busy one, and he has not lost his 
opportunities. He is a native of New Vork, 
having first seen the light of (Uiy at Coey- 
UKins, Albany county, Fei^ruary 14, 1837, 
and is the son of A. N. and Maria (Andrews) 
P.riggs. He was reared amid the familiar 
scenes of his childhood, and I'cciiived the 
I'lidimeiits of his <'ducati()n in the common 
schools of Cliai'l(.)tteville, Schohari(! county. 
Ap])roaching the yenrs of manhood, our 
subject commenced the study of law with 
Ira Iliirris, of Albany, with whom he r(!- 
maiued some two years, and with S. T. 
lliggins one year. He then attended a 
coui'se (jf lectures at the Law School at 
Albany, N. Y., under the tuition of such 
men as Ira Harris, Ainasa J. Parker and 
Amos Dean. He was admitted to the bar 
in 1859, and commenced the practice of his 
profession at Albany, N. Y. 

While peacefully |)ursuing the quiet rounds 
of his profession and duties, traitors in arms 
inaugurated civil war by threatening the life 
of our Nation, and on the call of llie presi- 
dent for 75,00(1 threes-months' soldiers, Mr. 
Ih'iggs with a, noble patriotism, leaving 
everything, enlisted in the Tenth New York 
Infantry, and proceeded to the front. The 
tiiree-nKHiths' term of his service havinir 
exj)ireil, he re-enlisted in the Forty- 
third New York Infantry, of which he was 
commissioned second lieutenant. He was 
soon detailed for service in the Signal Corps, 
and, after instruction at Georgetown, was 
ordered to I'eport to General N. !>. Banks, 
then commanding in the Shenaiuloah N'alley, 
and served there through the year lStl2. Re- 
ceiving his commission in the United States 
Signal Corps, he was then attached to the 
headquarters of the Twenty-third Army 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



431 



Corps, with whom lie remained until the 
close of the war, altliough later lie was under 
the immediate command of General J. M. 
Scliofield. Our subject participated in the 
Atlanta caui])aign, and in the sanguinary 
contests at P'ranldin and Nashville, Tenn., 
and was present at tlie junction of tlie forces 
of Sherman and Schofiekl, at Goldsboro. 
Pie was mustered out at the close of hostili- 
ties, and returned to his home. 

Mr. Briggs was married, November 16, 
1866, to Miss Helen F. Hale, a native of 
Aroostook county. Me., and has resided, ever 
since, in Meeker county, at the village of 
Kingston. He engiiged in the mercantile 
business, but after eight months sold out and 
returned to New York. Three months later 
he came back and took up a homestead on 
section 34, Kingston township. He then 
purchased the store of F. V. DeCoster, and 
continued the mercantile business until 1875, 
since whicii time he has been chiefly em- 
ployed dealing in real estate. 

Mr. and Mrs. JJriggs have a faiiiil}' of iowv 
children, three of whom are living. Their 
names are Albert N., Maria T., and T'onnie. 
The one deceased bore the name of Tlionias 
A. The subject of whom this is written, 
was postmaster of Kingston from 1ST4 until 
1886; has tilled the offices of justice of the 
peace and town treasurer, and is a strong 
adiierent to the principles formulated by the 
republican party. He is a member of Frank 
Daggett Post, G. A. R. 



-^S€{^"*- 



OREN NELSON. The subject of this 
l)ersonal history is one of the most 
prominent and wealthy farmers and stock- 
raisers in Danielson township, his residence 
being located on section 4 in that civil sub- 
division of Meeker county. Mr. Nelson is a 
son of Nels and Mary Peterson, and was 
born in Denmark, on the 16th of April, 18,34. 



His early life was spent in his native land, 
where he received the same lessons of indus- 
try and economy which are characteristic of 
the peojile of his nationality. From neces- 
sity, in early youth, he imbibed these princi- 
ples, and they have benefited him all 
through life. In telling of the way his folks 
hved in the old country, he says that there 
were seven children in the family, besides the 
parents, and that his father worked for twelve 
cents per day, and supported the family. 
For some time the father was out of work, 
and the mother supported the entire family 
by spinning, earning only three cents per day. 
BreatI, and, in the summer, onions and occa- 
sionally potatoes, were their only food. It 
was through such hardships as these that 
Soren spent his early days. In 1863 he came 
to America, and upon landing in New York, 
he had just %\M, and %\ of this he paid for 
his first day's board. The next (hiy he bor- 
rowed $20 of a friend and went to Chicago, 
where he worked at butchering and in a lum- 
ber-yard. In the fall he went to Lookout 
Mountain, in tiie employ of the government. 
On the 28th of March, 186.5, he was dis- 
charged, and returned to Chicago, where he 
remained until in the following December, 
when he went to Texas, and was there em- 
ployed by the government, at Galveston. 
From there he went to Peoria, III., and spent 
some time in looking for land, and then re- 
turned to Chicago. On the 1st of April, 
1866, he came to Minnesota, and bought a 
quarter section of land in Dodge county, 
which he sold three months later, and aoain 
started west, and spent some time in looking 
for a location. In 1866 he purchased a farm 
near Grove City, in Swede Grove township, 
this county, and made that his home for ten 
years. In 18*76 he removed to where he now 
lives, on section 4, Danielson township. He 
now owns a farm of 200 acres on section 4, 
besides still owning his farm of eighty acres 
in Swede Grove. 



He has good 



l)uil(lings, 



432 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



and his farm is one of the most vahiable in 
the township. He lias met with a number of 
sei'ioiis reverses, hut by iiis perseverance, en- 
ter|)rise and in(Uistry, lie has overcome them 
all, and is now rated as one of the solid and 
substantial citizens of the county. In 1877 
he lost his crop by the grasshopper depreda- 
tions. In 1872 his buildings were destroyed 
by a tornado, he and his wife being seriously 
injured and rendered insensible when the 
house was blown over. They both recovered, 
however. 

In political matters Mr. Nelson is a dem- 
ocrat. 

On the 13th of May, 1867, Soren Nelson 
was married to Miss Mary Johnson, a daugh- 
ter of Peter and Anna Johnson. Their mar- 
riage has been blessed with three children, as 
follows — Nels P., born August 12, 1870; 
William, born Sejitember 22, 1872 ; and 
Charles, born February 21, 1875. Mr. and 
Mrs. Nelson are members of the Danish 
Lutheran Church. Both of them hold the 
utmost respect and confidence of all their 
neighbors and acquaintances. 



JEREMIAH LEAMING, one of the most 
prominent and successful farmers in 
Union Grove township, is a resident of sec- 
tion 3-f. He is a son of George and Juliette 
Leaming, and is a native of Laramie town- 
ship, Tippecanoe county, Ind. He left the 
parental roof when seventeen years old and 
apprenticed himself to learn the cabinet- 
maker's trade, remaining as an apprentice 
for three years, after which he worked as a 
journeyman for a year. He then came to St. 
Anthony, and for two years worked at his 
trade, after whi6h, for a year, he was employeil 
in a sash and door factory. At the expiration 
of that time, in company with J. W. Bassett, 
he opened a wagon, carriage and plow fac- 



tory, and also ran a blacksmith shop in con- 
nection. IIi^ continued this liiisiness until 
1857, when he sold out to his partner, and 
went to Monticello, in Wright county, where 
he had charge of a lumber yard tor Charles 
King for nearl}^ two years. In the spring of 
1859 he came to Meeker county and bought 
a claim on section 3-1. in what is now Union 
Grove township, of a man named Judson 
Pearson. This is the farm where he stiU 
lives, and it has been his home ever since 
with the exception of four years during the 
Indian troubles, a history of which is given 
elsewhere. When they first heard the news 
of the massacre at Acton the family went to 
Forest City, and two days later to Monti- 
cello, in Wright county. The family re- 
mained there while Mr. Learning worked at 
different places as millwright, farm hand, 
and whatever else turned up. ■ Upon the 
close of hostilities the family returned to the 
farm, where they have since lived. Mr. 
Leaming has a splendid farm of 200 acres, a 
good share of which is under cultivation, 
and he devotes his attention to farming and 
stock-raising. 

Mr. Leaming, in some respects has been 
very unfortunate, and has had to surmount 
difficulties and misfortunes which would dis- 
courage most mankind. He was a heavy 
loser on account of the redskins, and also by 
the white men after the trouble was over. 
The Indians destroyed his grain and his resi- 
dence was burned during his absence. It 
was hard to accumulate anything. Wheat 
was only thirty-five cents a bushel, eggs five 
cents a dozen, and butter five cents a pound. 
When the Indians drove him away he was 
almost penniless, and he was not much better 
off when he i-eturned. In 1877 the grass- 
hoppers took about all of his crops, and 
another year he lost nearly all his grain by 
hail. Notwithstanding the disadvantages 
with which he had to contend, his energy 
and enterprise have never flagged, and his 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



433 



present comfoi'table circumstances attest to 
this fact. 

Our subject has taken an active interest in 
township matters and has been closely identi- 
fied with the official historj' of the town. He 
has held numerous local offices, including the 
following: Assessor, thirteen or fourteen 
years; supervisor, one year ; school treasurer, 
three years; and justice of the peace, six 
years. 

On the 31st of March, 1857, Mr. Leaming 
was married to Phebe AV. Bryant, a daughter 
of Ambrose and Narcissa (Merrill) Bryant, 
and their marriage has been blessed with the 
following children — George A., born March 
4, 1859; Ella J., born December 6, 1860; 
Curtis M., born January 22, 1866 ; Juliette, 
born February 26, 1868 ; and Clara B., born 
September 4, 1869. George A. is married to 
Annie A. Barrie, and lives on section 35. 
Ella J. married J. B. Tuttle, and they reside 
on section 20, Union Grove. 

Mrs. Leaming was born in Kennebec 
county. Me. Her father was a blacksmith 
when a young man, but for a great many 
years before he left his native State was en- 
gaged in the mercantile business. In 1855 
he came to "Wright county, Minn., and en- 
gaged in farming, but has now retired and 
resides at Buffalo, Minn. 

Mr. Learning's fatlier was a farmer. For 
a number of years he operated a pottery in 
connection with ji is farming operations, Ijut 
later sold that and devoted his entire atten- 
tion to farming until the time of his death, in 
1880. Mr. Learning's mother now lives in 
Jasper county, Mo. 

Mr. Leaming became a Mason when 
twenty-two years of age, joining, at St. 
Anthony's, Cataract Lodge, No. 2, A. F. & 
A. M. He is a man of the strictest integrity, 
and no one stands higher, or more fully holds 
the respect of the community, than he. A 
portrait of Mr. Leaming will be found else- 
where in this volume. 



TOHN W. JOHNSON, one of Litchfield's 
^ most enterprising dealers in farm ma- 
cliinery, is a native of Skone, Sweden, born 
October 24, 1849, and is the son of Ole and 
Hannah (Ingeman) Johnson, also natives of 
Sweden. When he was but nine years of 
age, in 1857, he came to Meeker county with 
his parents, who were among the very first 
settlers in Litchfield township, and remained 
an inmate of the paternal home until he was 
about twenty years old. In his boyhood 
davs John became quite an expert hunter 
and trapper, shooting his first deer when 
but eleven years of age. The next winter 
he and his father captured a full grown buck, 
which he succeeded in fully taming. One 
winter tiie profits on the furs he got brought 
about $500. 

When he had nearly reached his majorit}', 
he commenced railroad work on the grade 
through this county, from Smith Lake to a 
point tiiree miles west of where Litchfield 
now stands, as foreman of a gang of men. 
In 1869 he went to California, and remained 
on the Pacific slope, in that beautiful land of 
the sunset, for a year, after which he re- 
turned to his paternal home and rested for a 
short time. He then entered tlie employ of 
the Northern Pacific Railroad, and remained 
with them one season. His next venture 
was in having charge of the " Bonanza 
farm," of George L. Becker, of St Paul, now 
Railroad Commissioner, in Stevens county, 
for two years. Returning to Meeker county, 
Mr. Johnson then pui'chased a farm of 400 
acres of land in the town of Darwin, 300 
acres »jf which is under cultivation and has 
good buildings upon it. He lived thereuntil 
1886, when, leasing the place, he removed to 
Litchfield and entered upon his present busi- 
ness. He is one of the original members of 
the Swedish Temperance Association, and 
one of its most active membei"s. Mr. John- 
son was elected a member of the villao:e 
council, on the prohibition ticket, in A))ril, 



434 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



1888, after a liard contest, and now occupies 
that position. 

The subject of this sketch was united in 
marriage, l\rarch 29, 1874, with Miss Annie 
Pehrson, also a native of Sweden, born Jan- 
uary 14, 1S54, and daughter of Peter AVilson 
and Bengta (Wilson) Pehrson, wiio were 
born in Sweden, but came to tJie United 
States in 1868. 



«^^^ 



.«« 



^DWARD H. MURPHY, a leading farm- 
\^il er of Manaunali township, living on 
section 34, is a native of Carrick-on-Sui", 
County Tipperary, Ireland, born July 5, 1830. 
He remained a resident of his down-trodden 
and oppressed native land until 1848, when 
he bade farewell to the Emerald Isle and 
crossed the sea to America. The first year 
he spent in Vermont, but with the beginning 
of the year 1849 he went to the coast and 
shipped on a United States hydrographic 
surveying cutter, but not being pleased witii 
his treatment left them at Boston. He fol- 
lowed railroading for a wliile in the East, but 
later coming West to Chillicothe, Oiiio, he 
there carried on the butcher business for four 
years. The ne.xt six years were spent as 
foreman of a iiemp warehouse. About the 
year 1854, he went to Louisiana, Mo., where 
he remained until the breaking out of the 
Rebellion. In tiie spring of 1861 Mr. Mur- 
phy enlisted in Company D, Henderson's 
Brigade, Missouri Infantry, for three months. 
At the e.K])iration of that time he re-enlisted 
in Company D, First Missouri Infantry, a 
six-months' regiment, and participated in the 
siege and battle of Springfield, Mo. After 
this he enlisted in the First Missouri Infantrv 
for three 3'ears, or the war. He was then 
detailed for secret service or espionage, and 
in that capacity penetrated the rebel lines 
and traveled throughout tiieir country, often 
amid their armies, and always incurring the 



greatest danger, for death by hanging is the 
mildest penalty awarded a detected spy. 
Mr. iluri)hy was frequently arrested on sus- 
])icion. and had many narrow escapes. A 
history of his adventures would prove in- 
teresting reading and would fill a volume. 
He was brought by the discharge of his duty 
into close contact witli nearl\' all the general 
officers in the Western Army. The war over, 
he was discharged from the service with 
strong recommendations from most of the 
commanders of tiie Armies of the Tennessee, 
Cumberland and Ohio. 

He was strongly persuaded by the mayor 
and others to remain in St. Louisas detective, 
but desiring to settle upon a farm, in 1865 
came to Meeker county and took up a home- 
stead, where he now lives. 

Our subject was married in Chillicothe, 
Ohio, May 10, 1852, to Miss Margaret Kin- 
sella, a native of County Waterford, Ire- 
land, who is the mother of two children — 
James, living at Montevideo, and Edward, 
at iiome. 



-«- 



^^^ 



/^, EORGE B. WALLER, Jr., the engineer 
V^jl' of the roller flouring mill, at Litch- 
field, is a native of FrankUn, Morgan county, 
111., born August 29, 1854, and is the son of 
George B. and Mary S. (Chestnut) Waller. 

Honorable George B. Waller, Sr., the father 
of our subject, was born in King and Queen 
county, A^'a , in 1804, and remained in that 
State until 1815, when he removed with 
his parents to Lexington, Ky., where he 
grew to manhood. He acquired a great pro- 
ficiency in the machinist's trade, which he 
had adopted in his youth, and was an able 
engineer. In 1833 he removed to Alton, 111., 
and,during that year made a trip, as engineer 
of the boat Utility, to Fort Snelling. In 
183G he removed to Morgan county. 111., 
where he followed his trade as machinist. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



435 



and, while there, was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary S Chestnut. He occupied 
a prominent position in tliat part of our 
country, representing his district in the 
lower house of the Illinois Legislature, for 
one term. In 1867 he removed with his 
family to Minneapolis, where he resided for 
two years, and came to where Litch- 
field now stanils in June, 1869. Lie had 
previously purchased the northeast quar 
ter of section 11, in Litchfield township, 
knowing that a town would be located in 
this vicinity, and, upon the railroad com- 
ing here, deeded an undivided one -half 
interest in 150 acres of his land to the 
railroad company to plat a town upon, 
and upon which a part of the original town- 
site was laid out in Jul}', 1869. He shipped 
a house, which had been gotten out in 
Minneapolis, to this point as soon as the 
trains were running, and put up one of the 
first houses in the village, and moved his 
familj' here in November. Here he made 
his home until his death, which occurred 
July 18, 1878. He was a member of the 
Methodist Church, and a devout Christian, 
and said, while on his dying bed, that he had 
never uttered an oath in his life. He left, 
to mourn his loss, his widow and three sons 
and one daughter. The latter are as follows — 
John, now grain inspector, at Minneapolis; 
Lizzie, Mi's. H. M. Miller, of Waverly, 111.; 
Henry, of Litchfield, and George E., Jr., the 
subject of this sketch. The mother of the 
family, after residing here until 1884, re- 
turned to Morgan county. 111., where she 
now lives. 

George B., Jr., made his home with his 
parents until after his fatiier's death, and 
the removal of his mother from this place. 
At the age of eighteen years he commenced 
his apprenticeship to the calling of engineer, 
which he now follows ; and on the 1st of 
January, 1888, took charge of the engine of 
Shaw & Ehler's Eoller Flouring Mill. He is 



a member of Golden Fleece Lodge, No. 89, 
A. F. & A. M. 

The marriage of George B. Waller, Jr., 
and Miss Etta Dowman, of Dassel, took 
place November 15, 1S86. 



JOHN JOHNSON, one of the most active 
and enterprising young business men of 
the village of Dassel, is engaged in the sale 
of agricultural machinery, tie is Swedish 
by birth, and was born in 1853. His parents, 
Daniel and Bratta Johnson were natives, also, 
of Sweden, and came to the United States in 
1871, with the natural desire to better their 
condition in life. The family settled on sec- 
tion 2, Collin wood township, where they 
purchased land of the railroad company. 
Shortly after they got settled in their new 
home, and tlie affairs of the farm began to 
go along swimmingly, the subject of this 
sketch left the parental roof and found em- 
ployment with the Northern Pacific Railroad 
Company, and followed that line of business 
with varied success, off and on, for a period 
covering some six or seven years. Growing 
tired at last of that life Mr. Joimson finally 
abandoned it, and locatmg in the rising vil- 
lage of Dassel, the second important place in 
the county, entered into the farm implement 
business which he still carries on. In con- 
nection with this he is, also, the approved 
agent lor sewing machines, and has a wide 
reputation in the vicinity for his honorable 
dealing. 

Mr. Johnson was united in marriage, in 
September, 1876, with Miss Alice Forder, 
daughter of William and Mary Forder, of 
CoUinwood. By this marriage there have 
been born three children — William E., Ben- 
jamin F. and John E. 

Mr. Johnson has always manifested con- 
siderable interest in the discharge of his duties 



436 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 




as a eiti/en, and, being elected town clerk in 
1882, was re-elected by an approving constit- 
uency lor several terms, serving five consecu- 
tive years. He is a member of the Cokato 
iodge, No. 13i, A. F. & A. M. 

• •* > >»;^{^- < >- • 

:rS. MARTHA BOWEN, late of 

Litclilield, was a descendant of tbe 

Puritans, who preferred the wilds of Amer- 
ica, its privations, toil and dangers, with free- 
dom to worship God, to comfort and luxury 
in a land Avhere tyrants ruled. The progeni- 
tors of Mrs. Bo wen were driven by religious 
persecution from England, and fled to Hol- 
land. As soon as practicable they returned 
to England, having decided to leave the Old 
World and its strife for the New "World 
across the Atlantic wave. They sailed for 
Plymouth, Mass., in the vessel following the 
Mayflower. Mrs. Martha Bowen, daughter 
of Timothy and Ruth Wells Hatch, was born 
in Kent, Conn., December 14, 1783. The 
father of Mrs. Bowen waS' a brave soldier in 
the Tlevolutionary War. He loved God and 
freedom, and proved the soundness of his 
principles by warring against despotism. 

As a specimen of the zeal of the family in 
the cause of liberty — when it was impossible 
to obtain sufficient firearms for the soldiers, 
the grandfather. Styles Wells, made a large 
number of iron flails and sent them to our 
defenseless soldiers, bidding them, in God's 
name, use them bravely against the foes of 
our country. When the war was ended and 
peace declared, Timothy Hatch, father of 
Mrs. Bowen, left his home in Connecticut to 
build up a new home in the almost ])athless 
wilds of New York. One iumdred and five 
3'ears ago there might have been seen in the 
wilderness of New York a father and his 
daughter with her wee babe, wending their 
way on horseback, then the only safe method 
of traveling in the unsettled country. That 



father was accompanying his daughter to 
her husband and the new home prepared for 
her in "the West" — Central New York! 
The babe became Mrs. Bowen, the subject 
of this sketch. In Duanesljurg our pioneer 
soldier lived until eight children surrounded 
the festal board. By frugality and industry, 
sufficient means had been accumulated to 
gratiiy tlie wish of the ambitious members 
of the family for a change. To Chenango 
county, N. Y., to the region afterward 
named Sherburne, the father removed. In 
til is town, now noticeable for its beautiful 
homes, its fine residences and its costly pub- 
lic edifices, one could hardly imagine that 
not long ago bands of wild Indians roved at 
will ; that the thick woodland almost shut 
out the light of the noonday sun and the 
light of the stars by night. 

In a home where God was honored by par- 
ents and children, a home of much mature 
refinement and intellectual culture, in the 
sunshine of worldly prosperity, Martha Hatch 
was reared and grew into wonumhood. In 
the eighteenth year of her age she married 
Luther Bowen, a gentleman from Litchfield, 
Conn., whose intelligence, integrity and zeal 
in every good work made him a fit compan- 
ion for the noble maiden. Mr. Bowen was 
for thirty years a merchant and engaged in 
various avocations which would have ab- 
sorbed the time and strength of a man less 
philanthropic and religious; but in the whirl 
of busy life he found time to assist in laying 
well the foundations of the society in which 
his fanuly moved. Nor were his efi'orts 
bounded by his own town ; with the ever 
ready help of his wife, assistance was often 
rendered to pooi\ but promising young men 
and women to gain an education. The poor, 
friendless and suffering never called in vain 
upon his family for help. Six orphans at one 
time shared the fireside with the eight chil- 
dren of Mr. aiul Mrs. Bowen. Rare was the 
year when needy ones were not sheltered 





'^^c 




MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



439 



beneath the roof-tree. The abihty to do 
good was, by the blessing of God, enlarged 
and continued down to the death of the hon- 
ored husband. In all the sad changes and 
bereavements of her life, Mrs. Bowen mani- 
ifested a fortitude founded upon a holy con- 
fidence in God. The purity and simplicity 
of her life was not changed by circumstances, 
only, as she di-ew nearer her final home, she 
seemed purified from earthly dross. In May, 
1871, Mrs. Bowen came to Litchfield in com- 
pany with her son, M. D. Bowen, to make 
this town her home. Her extreme age did 
not lessen her interest in passing events. 
Her memory down to tlie last da3's of her 
life was unimpaired. For seventy-five years 
Mrs. Bowen was a member of the church, 
where she was characterized by her energy 
and liberal zeal. She died in Litchfield, Jan- 
uary 19, 1876, in tiie ninety-third year of 
her age. Her long pilgrimage is ended ; her 
crown is won. 



ICHAEL MURPHY. One of the 
|=<Jjf^ large land owners and prosperous 
farmers of Kingston toMmship, is the above 
gentleman, who lives upon section 28, where 
his house is surrounded by his fine farm of 
640 acres. Mr. Murpby is a native of 
County Kerry, Ireland, born January 6, 
1835, and was reared among the beautiful 
scenery of that part of the lovely island, 
until about nineteen years of age, when he 
came to America, landing at Quebec, Can- 
ada. From there he made his way to Eut- 
land, Vt., where he spent eight years, in the 
stone and marble works, and from there 
came to Meeker county in May, 1862, in 
company with Daniel B3'rnes, and has been 
a resident ever since. 

Our subject was married, January 7, 1860, 
to Miss Catherine Clifford, who became the 
mother of eleven children, as follows — 



William, Timothy, Morris, Julia, John, 
Ellen, Norah, Michael (died August 30, 
1871), Joseph, Charles, and Dennis. Wil- 
liam is the only one married, the rest are 
living at home. 

In politics Mr. Murphy is a democrat, and 
having the cause of education at heart, has 
served for nine years as clerk of school dis- 
trict No. 1. He is giving a large share of 
his attention to stock and also to grain rais- 



1^1 LA JOHNSON, a respected farmer of 
i^^ Darwin township, residing on section 
19, is a native of Sweden, born September 
10, 1827, and is a son of John and Ceceha 
Johnson. He was reared among the wild 
native scenery of tlie land of his birth, and 
there grew to manhood. In 1849 he mar- 
ried Plannah Ingerraan, daughter of Andrew 
and Ellen Ingerman, and in 1858, taking his 
wife and five children he bade adieu to the 
fatherland and sailed for America. He laud- 
ed at New York July 1, 1858, but did not 
remain there, coming dii'ect to Meeker 
county, Minn., ari-iving in Litchfield township 
in the month of August. He at once took 
up a claim of 160 acres of land in section 14, 
on the site of the present city of Litchfield. 
Here he built a house and commenced to de- 
velop his farm. Soon came the Indian 
troubles of 1862. He was warned, on the 
night of August 17th, that the redskins were 
out engaged in butchering the peaceful and 
defenseless settlers, and the next day, after 
helping bury the murdered people in Acton, 
and assisting in the inquest, he took his fam- 
ily' to St. Paul, he and his eldest son then re- 
turning to their home. Still fearing the red- 
skins, the settlers were compelled to throw 
up a fortification around Mr. Johnson's house. 
Some ten families were here at the time, all 
of the men working on the fortification. This 



440 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



was built of logs and rails and banked up 
inside with dirt and surrounded by a deep 
ditch. When the trouble was about over, 
Mr. Johnson, after losing everything he had 
went to St. Paul, where his family made 
their home for some eighteen months. After 
peace had once more settled upon the 
border, he V)rouglit his family back and has 
made this county liis home ever since, ex- 
cept one year sjjent in the " Golden State." 
Mr. Johnson and his estimabk; wife are the 
parents of thirteen cliildren, all of whom are 
living but one. They are — John, who mar- 
ried Anna Peterson, and is living in Litch- 
field ; Ellen, the wife of Hon. Andrew 
Nelson, of Litchfield ; Andrew married Miss 
Josie Viren, and lives near his father; Sarah, 
Mrs. John Birch, living in Litchfield ; Mary, 
who married Henry Wilson, is a resident of 
Portland, Ore. ; Elizabeth, who is living at 
home with her parents; Emily, the wife of 
B. Peter Nelson, of Litchfield; Edward S., 
who owns the adjoining farm to his father's 
but lives at home ; Abram B., living in Port- 
land, Ore. ; Josephine, Nathan and Willie S., 
at home with their parents, and Annie, who 
died in 1869. 

In 1869 Mr. Johnson sold his farm, and 
with his family removed to California, but 
one year later returned to Meeker countj' 
and purchased his present place, which con- 
tains 440 acres. 



«4^- 



ARK GATES. Foremost among the 
^^^ij[?^ band of rugged pioneers that 
dared to penetrate through the " Big Woods " 
and to plant beyond their shade the banner 
of civilization, was the gentleman whose 
name heads this article. He came to Meeker 
county in 1856, and upon the filing of his 
claim in April of that year, went back to 
Maine, where he was married, and returned 
and settled upon his land that same year. 



This property, which he still possesses, and 
where he now lives is located upon section 
20, Kingston township. 

Mr. Cates is a native of Washington 
county. Me., born December 22, 1827, and 
is the son of Mark and Mary (Parmer) Cates. 
He was reared among his native hills and 
there secured the education which is the lot 
of every New England boy, an<l was 
employed at agricultural pursuits in that 
locality until 1855. In the fall of that year, 
leaving the old settlements, he pushed out 
into the great West, then for the most part 
an unknown land, and reached ilinnesota 
in the spring of 1856, as related above. 

On his return to Maine for liis bi'ide he 
was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth 
Cates, a native of the " Pine Tree State," 
and the daughter of Asa and Maria (Par- 
mer) Cates, the father a ship carpenter by 
trade. The lady comes of a race of hard}"- 
mariners that so abound in the ])orts of that 
iron-bound coast, two of her brothers being 
captains in the merchant marine to-day, 
while a third brother died while upon a voy- 
age. Bv their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cates 
have been the parents of ten children — 
Willie H., Charles P., Hilman L., Mary A., 
now Mrs. Warren Saulsbury ; A. V., Lizzie, 
deceased September 6, 1877 ; Frank, who 
died September 5, 1877 ; Frederick ; Jennie; 
and ]\Iaud. who died March 30, 1886. 

In his politics Mr. Cates attiliates with 
the republican party, believing that in its 
principles lies the surest guarantees for our 
national prosperity. 

— -^^^^-^ 



TONAS RUDBERG, one of the former 
y) prominent citizens of the village of Das- 
sel, but now deceased, was a native of the 
far-away kingdom of Sweden, who came to 
Meeker county in 1869, and located in Dassel 
on a farm, with his brother John, now one 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



441 



of the influential citizens of tlie county. In 
1872 Jonas entered the village and went into 
trade, and remained at the head of the drug 
business of Dassel until February, 1885, 
when, starting to visit his native land, died 
at Philadelphia, on his way to Sweden. His 
family are still residents of the village. 



-«« 



JTOHN RODANGE, one of the enterpris- 
S| ino- and progressive business men of 
Litchfield, is a native of the Grand Ducliy of 
Luxemburg, born among its vine clad hills, 
and near the classic waters of the beautiful 
river Rhine, February 25, 1839. He re- 
mained beneath the roof of his parents, John 
and Mary (Leonard) Rodange, spending his 
time in acquiring an education in the schools 
and under private tutors until he had attained 
his sixteentli year, at which time he entered 
a linen factory, where he passed some three 
years. The succeeding twelve months were 
spent as book-keeper in the office of the same 
establishment, after which he entered the 
employ of a large government and railroad 
conti'actor as clerk, with whom he remained 
three years. Mr. Rodange, after serving 
nearly three years more as book-lceeper and 
traveling salesman for a woolen mill, deter- 
mined to seek in the New AVorld the field 
for his efforts toward a competency, and ac- 
cordingly, in 18<i4, crossed the ocean, landing 
in New York, from whence he proceeded 
direct to Chicago. From tliere he went into 
the Wisconsin pineries, spending some 
time at various occupations until ISC*), when 
he took charge of a general merchandise 
store as head clerk, where he remained for a 
time, and then removed to Aurora, 111. 
After a year passed in that city, he went to 
Cascade, Dubuque county, Iowa, where he 
operated a brewery for a year or tAVO,- and 
then took up farming. One year's experi- 
ence of that mode of life having convinced 



him that it did not suit him, he sold out and 
removed back to Aurora, where he went into 
a wholesale liquor store. There he remained 
for five years, when his wife's health failing, 
he came to Litchfield, Minn., arriving there 
in the fall of 1876. He commenced in the 
saloon business, and remained in that line 
until 1882, when he sold out and estabhshed 
the Litchfield Bottling Works, where he is 
engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of 
carbonate beverages. Mr. Rodange was 
also engaged in the wholesale disposal of 
Milwaukee beer until 1887, which he carried 
on in connection with his other business. 

Mr. Rodange was very active in the pro- 
motion of the woolen mill company and the 
erection of the factory, and was one of the 
first directors and first treasurer and secre- 
tary of tiie association. In 1888 he was 
made general manager, and holds that office 
and tliat of secretary at the present writ- 
ino-. He is largely interested in I'eal estate 
in Litchfield and its environs, owning one 
of the finest residences in the city, besides 
other property and 200 acres of fine farm 
land. 

Our subject was united in marriage May 
9, 1867, with Miss Margaret Nickels, a native 
of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, and 
daughter of Peter and Susana (Michaelis) 
Nickels, of Aurora, 111. By this marriage 
there have been born a family of seven chil- 
dren — Peter, who is a clerk in Stevens & 
Co.'s Bank ; Susie, John, Eddie, Henry, Mary 
and Louisa. 

Mr. Rodange lias been prominently identi- 
with the growth and development of Litch- 
field's business interests, and stands high in 
the estimation of all. He is a shrewd and 
careful business man, of the strictest integ- 
rity, and is a true representative of the 
best business element in this part of the 
State. A good portrait of Mr. Rodange will 
be found in another department of this 
Album. 



442 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



^"-^HARLES MAGNUS GUMAELIUS, a 
prominent fanner of Litchfield town- 
ship, was born in Stockiiohn, Sweden, July 
14, 1820. His father, Carl M. Guniaelius, 
was for many years a captain in the Swedish 
army, and died in 1832. Charles spent his 
boyhood on his father's farm, and was edu- 
cated at Strangnes High School, continuing 
his studies for several years afterward, and 
laying up a goodly store of useful knowledge. 
In 1855 lie was married to Anna Forsberg, 
daughter of Charles Forsberg, who was for 
many years an officer of court in the roj'al 
palace at Stockliolm. Mr. and Mrs. Guniae- 
lius are the parents of three children, all of 
whom have grown to manhood and live on 
tlie home farm, near Litchfield — Charles 
Magnus, born July 23, 1856; Axle, born 
February 4, 1859; and Henning, born July 
25, 1862. The family came to America in 
1873, and settled in Meeker county, and 
have continued to reside here ever since, 
engaged in farming and stock raising. 



^.^^ 



/^^ L. GRINDALL, deceased, formerly one 
ySIs/ of the leading agriculturists of Cos- 
mos township, had his home on section 26. 
He came to this county in 1870, and filed a 
homestead claim upon this piece of land, 
containing 160 acres, upon which he did some 
breaking, erected a house, moved his family 
into it and made it his home until his deatli. 
He was born in Penobscot, Me., in 1S16, and 
there received his education and there grew 
to manhood. He followed farming and lum- 
bering for many years in the State of his na- 
tivity and until coming West. When he was 
about twenty-two years of age he was united 
in marriage with Miss Caroline Orcutt, also 
a native of tlie State of Maine, who stillsur- 
vives him. making her home with her son 
Hiram. I\Ir. Grindall departed this life 
October 17, 1887, leaving, to mourn tlieir loss. 



his bereaved widow and five children. Mr. 
Grindall was always connected with every 
movement looking to the benefit of the com- 
munity, and was one of the truly good and 
Christian men that are so beneficial, both in 
examjile and jn-ecept. He was respected by 
all who knew him. 

Hiram Grindall, the j'oungest son of E. 
L. and Caroline (Oi'cutt) Grindall, is living 
upon the homestead where his father settled 
in 1870. He was born in Penobscot, Me., in 
1863, and since his birth has always been 
witii liis parents. Since attaining his majority 
he has taken cliarge of the farm, and by dili- 
gence, industry and business ability, has 
brought a portion of it to a high state of 
cultivation. The balance, which is wood- 
land and pasture, has its uses, and the im- 
provements are excellent. 

^^TaROLD KITTELSON, of Acton town- 
JP^ ship, is one of the pioneers of Meeker 
county. He was born in Norway, on tlie 8th 
of February, 1840, and came to the United 
States in 1846, with his parents, Kittel and 
Carrie Haroldson. They settled upon a farm 
in Rock county. Wis., where they remained 
until 1857, when they removed to Meeker 
county, Minn. Harold remained with his 
parents until 1864, when he moved onto a 
farm of 149 acres on section 24, Acton town- 
sliip, wliich he purchased of his fatlier for 
$300. He has since bought additional hind, 
until he now has 319 acres in all, a good 
share of which is under cultivation. In 1874 
he erected a story-and-a-half residence, 24x32 
feet in size, and in 1886 built an addition 
18x20 feet in dimensions. In 1884 he built a 
large barn, witli a basement, and besides 
these, has otlier substantial farm buildings. 
On tlie 25th of July, 1863, he was married to 
Miss Martiia Paulson. She is a daughter of 
Mathias and Mai'v Paulson, and was born in 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



443 



Norway July 18, 1835. Her father, Mathias 
Paulson, with his family, five in number, 
were included in the first party of emigrants 
that ever started for America from S^lboe, 
South Throndhjems, Arnt, Norway, May 18, 
1857, and landed in Quebec, Canada. The 
family traveled partly by railroad and the 
balance of the way with team, to Berry, 
Compton county, Canada East, where they 
settled June 22, 1857. In the spring of 1860 
Martha came witii her brother Paul to St. 
Paul, Minn., and in the fall of 1861 she came 
to Meeker county, where her jiarents had 
settled in the fall of 1860. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kittelson's marriage has 
been blessed with the following children — 
Carrie, born April 3, 186i ; Carl, born August 
26, 1866; Mathias, born December 1. 1869; 
John, born May 31, 1873, die<l in September, 
187-i; Ilannaii M., born February 1,1877; 
and Nellie Christina, born March 12, 1879, 
died September 12, 1879. Mr. Kittelson was 
living with his parents when the Indian out- 
break of 1862 began, and he was one of the 
first settlers to see Jones after that unfor- 
tunate pioneer was murdered. He was also 
present when Jones and the other victims 
were buried, and with his team hauled from 
Litchfield the first base of the monument • 
which now marks their last resting-place. 
Mrs. Kittelson was also here during that 
eventful period, and was at work in the fam- 
ily of A- C. Smith at the time the attack was 
made on Forest City. Smith came in that 
night while she was clearing off the supper 
dishes, and stated that he believed an attack 
would be made that night, directing her to 
go at once to the stockade. Siie desired, 
however, to stay until she had finished her 
work, but Smith explained that she could 
finish the work in the morning if she was 
alive. She therefore threw a quilt over her 
head for a shawl, and went to the stockade, 
and, not realizing the approaching danger, 
went peacefully to sleep. The same night 



the attack was made, and for a time all 
thought that the Day of Judgment had come. 
In the morning she found that Smith's advice 
had saved her life, as the Indians had, in the 
meantime, been to the vacated house and 
stolen all they could carry off, and set it on 
fire, but the blaze had died out before much 
damage was done. A full account of the 
Indian troubles is given elsewhere in this 
volume, so it is unnecessary to go further in 
detail in this connection. 



,„^LAMLET STEVENS, the senior partner 
Jp3L in the banking firm of Stevens & Co., 
is one of the oldest settlers in Meeker county, 
and Ijas watched its growth from a state of 
wilderness to its present prosperous condi- 
tion. He was born in West Hawkesbury, 
Canada, August 16, 1830, and is the son of 
Samuel and Annie (Whitcomb) Stevens, both 
of whom were natives of Vermont. In his 
earl\' manhood the elder Mr. Stevens went 
to Canada, where he was engaged for many 
years following his trade, which was milling, 
and was there married, and there made his 
home until he passed to the silent chambers 
of the dead. 

The subject of this memoir was reared and 
educated in the county of his nativity, and 
as he reached maturer years, learned the 
carj^entering trade, and worked at that and 
millwrighting until coming here. At the 
age of twenty -six, in October, 1856, he left 
his Canadian home, and following the tide 
of emigration which was flowing westward, 
and as the bulk of the people were coming 
to Minnesota, he, too, came to the " North 
Star State." He remained that winter at 
Hastings, where he was employed at his 
trade, working on the hotel building, but in 
the spring of 1857 came to Meeker count\', 
where he has ever since made his home, and 
has been identified with its liistor}'. In the 
summer of 1863 he was appointed to fill the 



444 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



office of register of deeds, left vacant by the 
death of Tliomas Skiiuier, and was elected to 
the same office at the expiration of the term. 
In the autumn of 1871 he was a candidate 
for the position of county treasurer, elected 
and served therein until tlie s])ring of 1873. 
Having been chosen county auditor bv tiie 
people, in the spring of 1875, he entered 
upon the discharge of the duties of that 
office and remained there until the s])ring of 
1879. The fact that a democrat of his j)ro- 
nounced type held any office in a republican 
county, is a fair criterion of the estimation 
in which he has always been held by the 
greater part of the community. In June, 
1888, he was in attendance upon the Demo- 
cratic National Convention, at St. Louis, as 
one of the alternates from this district. 

Mr. Stevens, during the tragic days of the 
Indian troubles of 1862, joined the Meeker 
County Guai-ds, and was, at once, elected 
second lieutenant of tlie company, and served 
with them, as detailed elsewhere, until it was 
disbanded. It lias l)eeii justly said by the 
older residents that to him is due the credit, 
in a large measure, of finishing the stockade 
the day it was done, and which was so neces- 
sary before the dawn of the next morning. 
On the dispersion of Captain Whitconib's 
company Mr. Stevens enlisted in the United 
States' service and went to Fort Snelling, but 
was rejected on examination, as unfit for the 
purposes of war, anil then returned to Forest 
City, and there resided until the removal of 
the county seat to Litchfield, when he came 
hither himself. After the expiration of his 
term as treasurer Mr. Stevens made a trip 
through New Mexico and Colorado, and 
some time after his return to Litchfield 
started the banking business, in company' 
with IL S. Branham, which still is continued 
by them. Mr. Stevens is a ])rominent mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, being the scribe 
or secretary of all three branches, and is one 
of the vestrymen of the Episcopal churcii. 



ATHAN C. CASWELL, one of the 
earliest pioneers of the county, is still 
a resident of Manannah township, where he 
settled in 1856, on section 31. He is a native 
of BromjJton, Sherbrooke county, Canada, 
born August 28, 1835, and is the son of 
Carlos and Anna (Wakefield) Caswell, the 
former a native of Guildhall, Yt., born 
March 11, 1708, and was the son of Nathan 
Caswell, one of the Revolutionary heroes 
from the "■ Green Mountain State." Carlos 
Caswell went to Canada when a child, and 
made it his home until 1855. He wedded 
Miss Anna Wakefield, a native of Vermont, 
born April 8, 1801. He came to Meeker 
county in 1856, and here made his home 
until August 31, 1871, when he passed to his 
reward. 

Nathan C. Caswell, whose younger days 
were passed among the scenes of liis birth, 
came to the State in 1855, locating at Monti- 
cello. November 15th of that year he, Avith 
othei's, started and made a tri]) thi-ough this 
county, as detailed in another chapter. In 
the summer of 1856 he, v.ith others, came 
here and permanently located, and from that 
date have been prominenth' identified with 
the town and county's interests. He started 
for Pike's Peak, at the time of the excite- 
ment, with others, but in Nebraska, learning 
the state of affairs, he returned part of the 
way, stopping at Nebraska City, Neb., where 
he was engaged in teaming for an army con- 
tractor. He returned, after a while, to his 
home, and has since lived here. He is one of 
the prominent citizens of the county, has 
worthily filled several important offices, and 
is at present one of the board of county com- 
missioners. At one time in his life, in 1859, 
he filled the position of fireman on a lower 
Mississippi river steamboat to the satisfaction 
of his employers, and has ever since given the 
strongest proofs of his loyalt}' to the intei'- 
ests committed to his charge. 

Julv 27, 1861, Nathan C. Caswell was united 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



445 



in marriage with Miss Mary A. Welch, a 
native of New Brunswick, and daughter of 
John Welch, of Stearns county, now deceased. 
By this marriage there have been born two 
children — Seth C, born at Monticello, Wright 
county, November 19, 1863, wlio married 
Lillian M., daughter of Nathan W. Caswell, 
born at Brompton, Canada, September 1, 
186ti. Their marriage toolv place November 
27, 1884, and they have one child — Gertrude 
Emma, born October 1, 1886. The other 
child of N. C. Caswell was Mark J., who was 
born February 26, 1872, and died February 
20, 1881. 

Nathan C. Caswell, our subject, is one of 
the most prominent citizens in the northern 
portion of the county. lie has always taken 
an aptive and leading part in all public and 
educational affairs, and no citizen has been 
more closely identified with the official his- 
tory of the county and township in which he 
lives than the subject of this article. 



fOHN MATTSON, the gentleman own- 
ing and operating the flouring mill at 
Kingston, came to that part of the county, 
October -4, 1882, and ]iurchased of J. H. 
Thompson, of Minneapolis, the mill built by 
Whitney & Hutchins. It was then equipped 
with three runs of buhrs, but he has added 
two sets of rolls and centrifuii-als combined, 
and other improved maciiinery, making it 
as good as any mill in the county. 

Mr. Mattson is a native of Sweden, born 
near the city of Gottenborg, October 4,1832, 
and is the son of M. Mattson and Helena 
Mattson, both of whom died in their native 
land, the father in 1834, and the mother in 
1862. He was reared and educated in that 
land and there grew to manhood. At the 
age of twenty-two, in 1854, he started for 
America, and after a voyage of fifty days 
on the Atlantic, landed in Boston on the 4th 



of October. A short time later he came 
west to Chicago, and while crossing the lake 
suffered the hoi-rors of shipwreck, and, the 
vessel drifting into the harbor of Eacine, 
Wis., our subject landed and sought employ- 
ment, and fort}^ miles from that point he was 
employed in chopping wood for three 
months. In April, 18.55, he went to Chi- 
cago, and the following May went to Rock- 
foi'd, 111., where he remained until the spring 
of 1856, and then came to Retl Wing, Minn. 
During that summer he was employed at 
rafting on the Mississippi river, but later in 
the same season was taken sick and quit 
work. Upon his recovery he took a home- 
stead in Goodhue county, near Red Wing, 
which he sold in the summer of 1857, and in 
the fall went to Cannon Falls, Goodhue 
county, and began learning the miller's trade 
with R. C. Knox & Co. He remained with 
them until February, 1865, when he enlisted 
in Company B, First Minnesota Infantry, and 
served until the close of the war. Return- 
ing then to Minnesota, he again resumed his 
milling business, and was employed at the 
following points : W. K. Rodgers & Co., 
Cannon Falls. Minn.; in 1868 for Archibald, 
Wilcox & Co., Oxford, Minn. ; from 1869 to 
1873 for R. Gregg & Co., Cannon Falls, 
Minn. ; during 1873 and 1874 he was engaged 
in the general mercantile trade ; in 1875 
again engaged in milling for Nelson, Swan- 
son & Co., Bell Ci'eek, Minn. ; in 1877 for 
C. N. Wilcox, of Oxford Mills, Minn. ; in 
1878 for W. S. Turner, at Star Prairie, Wis. ; 
in 1879 for Mr. Munch, near Taylor's Falls, 
Minn. ; in 1880 for C. N. Wilcox, Oxford 
Mills, Minn. ; and in 1881 and, 1882 for 
Thompson, Smith & Co., at Cannon Falls, 
Goodhue county. In the latter year — 
1882 — he came to Meeker county, as 
stated. 

Mr. Mattson Avas married June 29, 1861, 
to Miss Sophia Johnson, a native of Sweden, 
born March 29, 1841, and daughter of 



446 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Charles and Hannali Johnson. She had 
come to America with her parents in 1853, 
landing at Boston, and after two years' resi- 
dence in Indiana, and two years in Iowa, 
came to Cannon Falls, this State, where the 
parents died, the mother in 1867, the father 
in 1884. Mr. Mattson is the father of eight 
children — Ella, now Mrs. M. T. Gunderson; 
Amanda C, Agnes M., and Ida E., and four 
deceased. Mr. Mattson is a member of the 
Lutheran Church. He votes with tiie repub- 
lican party. 



PETER J. MITCHELL, the subject of this 
slietch, has a valuable farm, with fine 
building improvements, located on section 9, 
Harvey townshiji. 

He is a native of Blair county, Pa., born 
September 14, 1859, and is a son of Stephen 
and Ann Mitchell. Stephen P. Mitchell was 
born in Ireland in about 1830, and came to 
the United States in 1848, settling in Blair 
county, Pa. In 1852 he was married to Miss 
Anna Morgan, and tliey were the parents of 
nine children, as follows — John, Anna, Peter, 
Mary, Katie, Patrick, Rody, Delia B. and 
Ella. The father followed railroading and 
mining in Pennsylvania, until 1875, when he 
came with his family to Meeker county, 
Minn., and purcliased 120 acres of land in 
Harvey townsiiip, and engaged in farming, 
remaining there until tlie time of his death, 
August 18, 1877. His widow, who was a 
native of County Gal way, Ireland, is still 
living on the old homestead. 

Peter J. Mitchell, the subject of this sketcli. 
learned the carpenter's trade while still a 
boy, and followed that to some extent, but 
the most of his life has been spent in 
farming. Since his father's deatii he has 
taken charge of the homestead, and also has 
200 acres in the township. He is a success- 
ful farmer, and also devotes considerable 



attention to stock-raising. In political mat- 
ters he affiliates with the democratic party, 
and is one of tlie leading members of that 
organization in the township. He has taken 
an active interest in public matters, and has 
held the office of township clerk since 1881, 
dischartjing: the duties of the office in a man- 
ner creditable to himself and satisfactory to 
all concerned. Through his connection with 
townshi]! matters and official affairs he has 
justly earned the reputation which he has of 
being one of tlie most careful aiul thorough 
business men in the township. 



J/SRAEL MILLER, proprietor of the Litch- 
^ field feed mill, is one of the brave veter- 
ans of our late civil war, " whose faitii and 
truth on war's red touchstone rang true 
metal." He is a native of Fort Wayne, 
Ind., and first saw the light of day beneath 
the roof of his parents, John F. and Julia A. 
(Coffman) Miller, on the 10th day of July, 
1839. In 1834, when John F. Miller settled 
at Fort Wayne, it was but an insignificant 
village, containing about a hundred people. 
He became a land owner in that vicinity, 
and pi'ospered as the countr\' developed, and 
made it his home until his death, which 
occurred in 1860. 

The subject of this memoir remained at 
home with his parents, ]ieacefully following 
the pursuit of agriculture until the tocsin of 
war with wild clamor filled the land, and the 
government called for the men of our country 
to sustain it. Israel enlisted in 1868 as a 
wagon master, thinking that the duties 
called forth in that position were best suited 
to his capacities, and received the charge of 
a train of some twenty-five wagons. He 
remained in this branch of the service some 
eigiit or ten months, and on the 15th of Feb- 
ruary, 1865, enlisted in Company G., One 
Hundred and Fiftv-second Indiana Infantry, 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



449 



and served witli that gallant regiment until 
his discharge at Charleston, W. Va., August 
30, 1865. During this time the body of men 
to which he was attached, were a portion of 
the army under Gen. "W. S. Hancock, whose 
post of duty was in the Shenandoah and 
Kanawha valleys. 

On receiving his discharge, Mr. Miller 
engaged in railroad work, which he followed 
for several years. In 1876 he became the 
general manager of a stave and head mill at 
Fort Waj'ne, but a year later he entered 
into business in the milling and chair factory 
line, with A. C. and D. S. Beaver, but a 
si ort time thereafter sold out and removed 
to Grundy county, Tenn., where he engaged 
in the same species of business. Five years 
later, on his wa}^ to the Red River country, 
he stopped at Litchfield, and was so struck 
with its appearance that he has never gone 
any further north. Tlie next summer he 
placed a steamboat upon the pellucid waters 
of Lake Ripley, for excursion purposes, 
which was quite a success. He, the same 
fall, erected the feed mill he is now operat- 
ing, and is still the owner of some 700 acres 
of timber and coal lands in Tennessee, and an 
undivided half-interest in 600 more. 

Thfe marriage that united the destinies of 
Israel Miller and Miss Harriet M. Beck was 
solemnized upon the 4tli day of March, 1860. 
The lady was a native of Allen county, Ind., 
and the daughter of Richai'd and Sarah Beck. 
On the 16th of May, 1866, Mrs. Miller passed 
to " that land Elysian, whose portals we call 
death," having been the mother of three chil- 
dren, of whom the following is the recoi'd — 
Frank M., the eldest, is a resident of Onta- 
rio, Cal.; Laura B. married M. Milburn, and 
is a resident of Indian Territory ; and Will- 
iam H., still lives at home with his surviving 
parent. Mr. Miller, July 24, 1868, again 
entered into the married state, being united 
with Miss Susie C. Totten, who is the mother 
of three children, two of whom are still 



living — Susie and Jennie. The name of the 
one deceased was Julian, who died October 
23, 1879. Again death entered the home of 
Mr. Miller and snatched from husband and 
mourning children the wife and mother, her 
death taking place November 22, 1876. After 
two years passed in single blessedness, May 
1, 1878, Mr. Miller again essayed the matri- 
monial yoke, this time wedding Miss Florence 
M. Palm, who became the mother of three 
children — Mary E., Arthur G. and John. 
The latter died in infancy, June 1, 1880. 



PETER P. ORNBERG, is one of the lead- 
ing farmers of Swede Grove township. 
He is a native of Sweden, born on the 17th 
of September, 1853, and is a son of Ole P. 
and Hannah Ornberg. He came to the 
United States in 1870, and came direct to 
Swede Grove township, Meeker county, 
Minn. He worked for different farmers in 
this neighborhood until some time in 1877, 
when he purchased 105 acres of land on sec- 
tion 29, Swede Grove township, and began 
farming on his own account. He has since 
bought eighty acres on sections 19 and 20, 
making 185 acres, w' hich he owns at the pres- 
ent time, his bmldings being located on sec- 
tion 29, on the north bank of Peterson Lake. 
When Mr. Ornberg came to this country he 
was not worth a dollar in this world's goods, 
but by thrift and industry he has accumu- 
lated a comfortable property. He has good 
and comfortable buildings, a full supply of 
the necessary farm machinery, a number of 
horses and quite a herd of cattle and hogs. 

Mr. Ornberg was married on the 26th of 
May, 1874, to Miss Anna Peterson, a daugh- 
ter of Hans and Betsy Peterson. They have 
been blessed with four children, as follows — 
Clans, born June 9, 1875 ; Ella, born Septem- 
ber 27, 1877; Andrew, born December 23, 
1879 ; and Ury, born July 2, 1886. Mr. 



450 



MEEKER COUNTY. MINNESOTA. 



Ornberg takes an active interest in all mat- 
ters of a public nature, and has held several 
local offices. He was school director of liis 
district for six vears. 



-.^^ 




ELS LARSON, a prominent farmer, 
resiiiing on section 8, in Litchfield 
townslii]), is one of tiie pioneers of the county, 
and a survivor of tlie Indian massacre of 
18G2. He \v;is liorn in Sweden Decemljer 
19, 1839, and is a son of John and Cela Peter- 
son Larson. lie left Sweden in 18.57, when 
seventeen years of age, with his parents and 
tliree brothers, Andrew, Peter E. and Louis, 
coming by way of Hamburg to the United 
States, and being eight weeks 6'« route. They 
came direct to Minnesota by way of Chicago 
and Prairie du Chien, and, after some little 
time spent in prospecting, they finally set- 
tled in Meeker county, locating first on sec- 
tion 9. of what is now Litchfield township, 
but subsequently took up a homestead on 
section S. Nels entered a liomestead of 
eightv acres adjoining his father's land, and 
shortly afterward purchased 120 acres of the 
jrovernment. He was married in 1859 to 
Anna Ingeman, and their union has been 
blessed with seven children, two of whom — 
Isaac and Lina— are dead. Of the other 
children, the eldest, Albert A., married Anna 
Kjellberg, and lives near Litchfield ; while 
Emanuel, Emma Maria, Edward and Isaac 
John are still with their jiarents on the 
homestead. 

Mr. Larson's early life being one of indus- 
try and frugality, he soon began accumulat- 
ing property, and had just got a good foot- 
hold, or start in life, when the Indian out- 
break came, and the fruits of nearly all his 
toil were swept away. When first warned 
of the terrible ravages that had been com- 
menced, he took his family to his fathers' 



house for safety, and the next day moved 
them on, as others did, to Forest City. After 
personally looking the ground over, he con- 
cluded the danger was over, and moved liis 
family into a house outside the fortifications. 
A day or two afterward the fatndy were ter- 
rified by a fresh attack of the Indians, and 
they rushed into the fort for refuge, under 
heavy firing. The Indians took a span of 
colts and a yoke of oxen which he had not 
time to secure. Mr. Larson borrowed a 
horse the next day, and went over to his 
farm, where he found his house a smoldering 
mass of ruins. He concluded to make the 
best of the situation, and proceeded to look 
after his cattle, which were in the timber 
and had not been molested by the redskins. 
While thus engaged, he discovered four Indi- 
ans coming upon him, and, mounting his 
horse, he fied, taking a course across a marsh 
on his farm. He succeeded in crossing it 
without trouble, but the savages mired their 
horses in it, thus enabling him to make good 
his escajie. After taking his wife and chil- 
dren — one of whom, Emma M., was only 
two weeks old — to St. Paul, for safekeejjing 
for the winter, he bought a team and a third 
interest in a tlirashing-machine on credit, 
and once more began life's lalior anew. Dur- 
ing the year 1863 he workeil on his farm as 
best he could, his family being sheltered in 
the fortress at Forest City and Litclifield. 
The Indians in the meantime kept infesting 
the country as bands of marauders, running 
off stock and committing other depredations, 
and Mr. Larson slept in the stable where his 
horses were, during the entire summer. That 
winter he stayed on his father's place, and in 
the spring of li'i^ built and moved into a 
cabin, where several of his neighboi's' fami- 
lies, who had learned to look to him for jjro- 
tection, came and shared the shelter of his 
roof. Mr. Larson's industiy and enteiprise 
have enabled him to overcome those reverses 
of fortune, and he now has a splendid farm 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



451 



of 0<)5 acres, including considerable timijer. 
He has held the office of township supervisor 
a number of years, and is justly regarded as 
one of tlie " solid " men of the county. 



-«« 



JMTONS A. BROWN came to Meeker 
li'-X^i^ county, Minn., in the first part of 
September, 1869, and settled where Litch- 
field is now locateil. At that time there was 
no depot nor passenger trains, only a con- 
struction train now and then, upon which 
all freight and passengers had to be trans- 
ported. At that time tliere was Old Sol's 
so-called hotel, Brown's blacksmith shop, 
Truls Nelson had just commenced a small 
dwelling, and II. B. Johnson had some 
lumber on the place, while Messrs.. Heard & 
Ward had also commenced a one-story build-' 
ing. In the latter part of September he 
received 1,200 feet of lumber from Minneap- 
olis, and built a board shed, or shanty, in the 
rear of lot 14, corner of Second street and 
the alley. The board shanty was 12x16, 
with shingle roof. About the Stli of Octo- 
ber he opened up a tin-shop and stock of 
hardware — the first hardware store and tin- 
shop Litchfield had — in a small way as it 
was. In November of that year he had an 
addition built to this shed, of 16x16, one and 
a half stories, with windows, sealed inside 
with flooring, where he moved his work- 
bench and hardware, and used the shed for 
stoves and warehouse. In 1870 he erected 
the frame building on lot 13, on Sibley ave- 
nue, which he occupied until 1882, and which 
still stands on the old site, and is now occu- 
pied by P. W. Jolmson as a hardware store. 
In October of that year he moved his family 
to Litchfield, and moved in over the hard- 
ware store. The family consisted of his 
three children and Mrs. A. Brown, his 
mother, and Miss Susan Johnson, as the gov- 
erness. In 1882, after selling out his hard- 



ware business to Mr. Johnson, he engaged 
in the brick business for four years, on part 
of section 6, town of Darwin, and then aban- 
doned the business. In 1884 he opened up a 
retail business in Grove Cit\% of a general 
line, such as dry goods, groceries, clothing, 
hats, caps and notions. Mr. Brown has only 
held local offices; has been twice town treas- 
urer. He served as first town clerk, when 
Litchfield was part of the incorporated town 
of Ness, and after being changed to town of 
Litchfield. He also served one year as pres- 
ident of the village council, and two years 
later as trustee on the village council. 

M. A. Brown was born in Norway. His 
father emigrated to this country in 1850, 
where he landed in Chicago, III. Mr. Brown 
lived in Chicago for about fourteen years, 
where he was married, and where his chil- 
dren were born. In 1865 he moved to Water 
Valley, Miss., where he came from when he 
settled in Litchfield, Minn. Mr. Brown has 
been always on the side of enterprise, and 
has fully identified himself with all the mate- 
rial progress of the village and the county. 
He has erected several good buildings in the 
village, which are a credit to himself and an 
ornament to the place. 

JOHN QUINLAN, who is engaged in gen- 
eral farming on section 11, Darwin 
township, is a native of Fond du Lac county, 
Wis., born November 12, 1859, and is 
the son of Jeremiah and Sarah Quinlan, 
both of whom were natives of the Emerald 
Isle, and are now residents of the same 
township. John Quinlan remained in the 
Badger State until he was some twenty 
years of age, but in 18T9 he left that portion 
of our country and came to Meeker county, 
and, taking up his residence where he now 
lives, has made this his home ever since. 
March 28, 1882, he was united in marriage 



452 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



with Margaret Doyle, who died April 14, 
1888, leaving the following children to 
mourn their loss — Jeremiah R., born April 
21, 1883 ; Margaret C, born September 4, 
1885 ; and John M., born March 21, 1888. 

Mr. Quinlan has followed farming most of 
his life, and understands tiiat business 
thoroughly. In his religion he is a devout 
Koman Catholic, and cheerfully fulfills his 
duties. In politics he is entirely independ- 
ent, not being bound by party lines. 



-^"J^^'-^- 



/^LAF PETERSON is one of the indus- 
^^^ trious foreign immigrants who have 
brought the thrift and economy so necessary 
in their native land to the fertile soil of the 
new world and are accumulating a comfort- 
able competence. He is the son of John and 
Mary (Olson) Peterson, born in Sweden, 
January 24, 1860. "When he was seven years 
of age he was brought to America by his 
parents, who settled in Carver county. The 
family afterward came to this county and 
settled in CoUinwood township. He re- 
mained an inmate of the parental" home until 
1886, when he moved to his farm on section 
36, where he has eighty acres of fine land, 
forty of which is under cultivation. He 
learned the carpenters trade in his early 
manhood and has followed that business a 
part of the time ever since, and also works 
at masonry and plastering. He has a neat 
and tasty residence and comfortable out- 
buildings. Mr. Peterson was united in mar- 
riage, August 4, 1883, with Miss Betsy Lar- 
son, and by this union there has been born 
two children — Mary, born June 25, 1884 ; 
and John Imer, born March 9, 1886. Al- 
though a young man, he is rapidly coming 
the front and bids fair to achieve success. He 
is of an ingenious turn of mind and has made 
some excellent s])ecimens of cabinet work 
which are very creditable. 



M LFRED RODGERS, one of the "brave 
jP^^JL l^oys in blue" during the late civil 
war, who is engaged in farming in Forest 
Prairie township, on section 18, where he 
owns some eighty acres of land, is a native 
of Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y., born 
March 18, 1830. He is the son of Stephen 
and Sarah (AVilliams) Rodgers. 

The father of our subject was a man of 
mark in the community in which he lived. 
He was the father of seven children l)y his first 
wife, of whom Alfred was one, the others 
being — EvaUne, Hiram, Wesley, Clark, Har- 
riet, and Manfred. The latter died, while 
in the army; and Clark's decease occurred 
in Goodhue county, this State. The mother 
of our subject died in the Empire State, and 
after her death Stephen Rodgers married Mrs. 
Spencer, by whom he had four children — 
Sarah, Martin, Eliza, and Orilla. In 1856, 
or 1857, Stephen removed to Wisconsin with 
his family, where he resided until his death, 
which occurred about 1877. 

The subject of this personal history learned 
the carpenters trade in youth, and followed 
it for some ten years in his native State, 
and, since coming here, has worked at it 
more or less. He was married July 4, 1853, 
to Miss Marietta Spicer, a native of New 
York, Avho died in 1858. She was the 
mother of one child — Dalton, who died in 
childhood. Mr. Rodgers' second marriage 
was with Miss Euphemia Scribner, who 
became the mother of three children — Man- 
fred, Eliza and Eva. 

In April, 1861, Mr. Rodgers enlisted in 
Company G, Thirty-fifth New York Infan- 
try, and participated in manj-^ of the most 
bloody battles fought by the Armies of the 
Potomac and Shenandoah, among which 
may be mentionad those of the first and 
second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, 
and White Sulphur Springs. He Avas finally 
mustered out and discharged, and returned 
to New York. He came to Meeker county 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



453 



in 1S69, and took up a homestead on section 
8, in Forest Prairie, but later moved to his 
present localit}'. lie is independent in 
political matters, and a representative man 
of the section of the county in which he 
lives. 



"OSEPH LAWRENCE WAKEFIELD, 
dealer in dr}' goods and general furnish- 
ing goods, is one of Litchfield's most promi- 
nent merchants. He is a native of Providence, 
E. I., and was born in 1854. His parents, 
William and Harriet S. (Belcher) Wakefield, 
•were both born and raised in the same State, 
and his grandfather, Joseph Belcher, belonged 
to the famous " Horse Marine Guards " in 
early times in New England. He was later 
' a hardware merchant, which business is still 
carried on by his sons, and was the first pei'- 
son to introduce throughout the United 
States horse shoe nails made by machinery, 
contracting for and handling the entire pro- 
duction. Joseph Lawrence's father, William 
Wakefield, was connected with the banking 
business in Providence, but in 1856, with his 
family he went to St. Paul, Minn., for the 
purpose of settling up the estate of a deceased 
brother, and, becoming settled there, he has 
since made that his home. 

J. L. Wakefield remained with his parents 
until nineteen years of age, when he went to 
Ked Wing and attended school, and after- 
ward entered Ripon College, at Ripon, Wis. 
In the fall of 1877 he went to Chicago and 
was employed as salesman in the dry goods 
establishment of A. T. Stewart & Co., until 
the spring of 1880. He was then employed 
by Auerbauch, Finch, Culbertson & Co., at 
St. Paul, until November, 1883, when he 
came to Litchfield and opened the store 
which he still conducts. He carries an ex- 
tensive and a complete stock of everything 
pertaining to his line and does a large busi- 



ness. He has taken an active interest in all 
public matters and is the present city recorder. 
Mr. Wakefield was married in October, 1882, 
to Miss Carrie A. McConnell, of LeEoy, 
Minn. They have one child — Henry Law- 
rence. 



ENGT HANSON, one of the most 
prominent old settlers in Meeker 
county, is a resident of Litchfield township, 
his extensive farm adjoining the village plat. 
Mr. Hanson was born in Sweden on the 6th 
of August, 1825. He was married in Octo- 
ber, 1853, to Miss Elna Larson, a daughter 
of John and Lissa Larson. Her parents both 
died in Meeker county, the father in Septem- 
ber, 1867, and the mother in February, 1887. 
Mr. Hanson's parents both died in Sweden. 
On the 6th of May, 1857, Bengt Hanson 
and family left their native land for 
America, but were detained at Hamburg, 
Germany, for twenty days. They finally 
arrived in New York on the 3d of July, and 
proceeded to Dunkirk, then to Toledo and 
on to Chicago. There was no depot as yet 
at the latter place, and his goods wej-e 
dumped on the ground, while the family 
were obliged to walk two or three miles 
through the mud to the other railroad. 
They took the line to Prairie du Chien, and, 
as there were no passenger cars, they rode to 
the latter point in box cars, and from there 
they took a boat up the river to Carver, 
Minn. At that place Bengt Hanson bought 
a span of horses and wagon, and leaving his 
family behind, he made a prospecting tour 
through several adjoining counties, but did 
not find a place to suit him. He then 
brought his family to Meeker county, and 
purchased 13(i acres of land. He has since 
continually added to his place, until he now 
owns 500 acres of valuable land. He is recog- 
nized as one of the most solid and substantial 



4?4 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



fai'iiiers in the county, and his integrity and 
straightforward deahng, have won liira a 
reputation which have made liis word as 
good as a l)ond. 

JMr. Hanson, witii tlie other ])ioneers, suf- 
fered a considerable loss and backset on 
account of the Indian outbreak. The red- 
skins stole several horses and other loose 
stock and destroyed most of his grain. 

He has always taken a commendable inter- 
est in public matters and has been promi- 
nently identified with the official history of 
the township in which he lives, having held 
the office of supervisor for over twenty 
years. 

Mrs. Hanson died on the 5th of April, 
1877, aged forty-one years. She was a true 
anil sincere Christian lady, and was held in 
high esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson were 
blessed with the following children — Emma, 
born in Sweden, December 10, 1854; CarlJ. 
G. and Nels C. U. (twins), born in Ham- 
bui'g, Germany, May 14, 1857 ; Alfred 
Emanuel, born June 30, 1859, died Decem- 
ber 15, 1862 ; Caroline, born September 4, 
1862; Esther, born April 4, 1865; Alfred 
Emanuel, born November 14, 1869 ; Edla 
Victoria, born May 30, 1874. Emma mar- 
ried Olaf H. Peterson, and resides in Litch- 
field township. Nels C. G. and Carl J. G. 
are mentioned elsewhere at length. Caro- 
line married Andrew Johnson, a resident of 
Litchfield townshi]). 



ARTIN J. PAULSON, one of the 
leading citizens of Meeker county, 
and for a nuudier of years a resident 
of Grove City, is the son of Johnson and 
Emma (Olson) Paulson, and was l)orn in 
Sweden on tiic 6th of Novembei-, 1851. Ho 
came to America with his parents in 1870, 
and on their a nival at Grove City found 
only two buildings in that ]>lace, the depot 



and a store. He was poor and a foreigner 
who could not speak the language, but he 
buckled to his life work, and now reaps the 
reward. He did whatever lie could find at 
hand for a cou])le of years, but learning the 
house-painting trade with A. Lofstrom, he 
followed that for about seven years. In 
1879 Mr. Paulson purchased the Swede Grove 
House, the pioneer hotel of the village, open- 
ed in 1874 by L. A. Olson, and changed the 
name to Grove City House, and was the land- 
lord of it until the spring of 1888, when he 
removed to Lake Koronis where he now 
lives. He has, by his own industry and thrift, 
raised himself, unaided, from his penniless 
condition into comjmrative affluence. He 
owns the fine hotel property and a good 
farm in Stearns county. He has also grown 
in influence in the community and has held 
the office of member of the council since 
1882; is the i)resent village recorder; and 
being the candidate upon the democratic 
ticket for member of the legislature, in the 
fall of 1886, was only defeated by the union 
of the three other parties, and then only by 
a small majority. 

November 12, 1884, Mr. Paulson was uni- 
ted in marriage with Miss Siney Peterson, 
daughter of Andrew and Anna (Eskelson) 
Peterson-Clase. Both of Mr. Paulson's 
parents died in this county, his mother in 
1887, and his father in 1886. His wife's 
father resides with them, but her mother 
died here about the time of the Indian 
troubles. 



-«-!^J^-^- 



^g^ILLER C. WOOD, a resjiected 
^^t,i%_ citizen and a successful farmer and 
stock-raiser residing on section 20, Mannnah 
township, was born in Logan county, Ky., 
on the 4tli of August, islS, and is a son of 
Miller and Melinda (Campbell) AVood. He 
left his native State with his parents in 1832 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



455 



and settled in Illinois, being among the ear- 
liest settlers of tliat region. lie remained 
there for many years, but in ISO-t came to 
Nicollet county, Minn., and settled, remain- 
ing one year. At the expiration of that 
time he came to Meeker county, and located 
on a farm in Union Grove township. In 
1879 he removed to Manannah township and 
settled on section 20, where he has since 
continued to reside. lie lias eiglity acres of 
land, and, in connection with a light general 
farming business, he devotes considerable 
attention to raising stock. 

Mr. Wood was married in 1842, to Minerva 
Deatherage. She bore him seven children, 
and died in 1853. 

In the year 1855 he was again married, 
Miss Lucinda S. Rogers becoming his wife. 
Thirteen children were born to them, ten 
of whom are still living. In political mat- 
ters Mr. Wood affiliates witli tlie demo- 
cratic party. 



— «.-: 



-^►^ 



M 



^IRAM S. BRANHAM, the junior mem- 



Co., is a native of Johnson county, Ind., and 
was born January 30, 1856. His parents, 
Jesse V. and Mary (Stark) Braniiam, were 
natives of Johnson county, Ind., and came 
to Meeker county in 1857, and located in 
what is now Litchfield township. 

Hiram was reared upon a farm until he 
was about twelve years of age, since which 
time he has, until the formation of tlie pres- 
ent firm, been employed in some capacit}' in 
some of the county offices. He commenced 
in ISOS, with his father, Jesse V. Branham, 
Jr., who was serving then as auditor, and 
later on was with his present [)artner, Ham- 
let Stevens, in the same office, having been 
appointed his deputy, and remained in that 
position for some eight years. Tlie banking 
firm was established bv them in ISSl, and 



they are now doing a large biisiness, real 
estate and farm loans being a specialty. Mr. 
Branham, who is recognized in the com- 
munity as one of its ablest and brainiest 
business men, by his long and faithful service 
in the auditor's office, became thorouglily 
posted in regard to the lands of the county, 
and this, together with his intuitive and sure 
judgment in all land matters make him an 
extremely safe guide in all real estate trans- 
actions. 

Mr. Branham and Miss Jessie A. Greenleaf, 
the latter the daughter of Hon.W. H. Green- 
leaf, were united in marriage December 27, 
1882. They are the parents of one child — 
Charles Greenleaf Branham, born December 
26, 1884. 



-«-2^p5--4- 



fOHN VOGEL, one of the prosperous and 
intelligent farmers of Dassel township, 
is a native of Germany, born in 1813. He 
was reared amid the scenes of his youth until 
he was about twenty-one years of age, when, 
starting out to seek his fortune, he turned 
his steps toAvard the west, to the land of the 
free, on this side of the ocean, whither he 
soon after arrived. For about two years he 
was engaged in the coal mines of Pennsyl- 
vania, but that work not being congenial to 
his taste, he came to Minnesota and for a 
time remained in tlie city of St. Paul. He 
then went to Howard Lake, and was in the 
employ of the railroad until 1877, when he 
gave that up, and witii his family settled on 
the farm on section 20, Dassel township, 
where he now lives. The first year they 
lived here there was no floor to their house, 
and they suffered considerable privation in 
every respect. Mucli of his time was taken 
up in working for others in order to provide 
for his family, so that the development of his 
own farm was somewhat retarded, but the 
native thrift and economy of his race, and 



456 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



stciidv persovoi-ance and undcviating dili- 
gence, in time met witli a signal reward, and 
he has now one of the best farms in the town. 
It contains 120 acres, and is highly cul- 
tivated and cared for. 

Mr. Vogel was married in St. Paul, Octo- 
ber 23, 1865, to Miss Emily Zeigler, a native 
of Germany, wlio came to this country the 
August preceding. They are the parents of 
eleven children, as follows — Edwin, born De- 
cember Y, 1807; Martin, born March 19, 
1869; Adelia, born February 22, 1877 ; Louisa, 
born July 23, 1873 ; Albert, born March 3, 
1875 ; Julia, born December 22, 1876 ; Emily, 
born November 26, 1878 ; Mary, born March 
31, 1881 ; Hattie, born March 8, 1883 ; John, 
born April 1, 1885 ; and Mabel, born June 6, 
1887. 



-«« 



^^.■ 



liW. AI.VFR O. NESS, an enterprising 
JP*^ farmer of Litchfield township, is a 
son of Ole Halverson and Mary Ness, and 
was born in Rock county. Wis., February 20, 
1850. "When he was but six years of age his 
parents removed to Meeker county, and set- 
tled on section 29, of what is now Litchfield 
township, where his entire life has been 
spent in the same industrious and upright 
manner that characterized the lives of his 
worthy ancestors. In 1877 he was married 
to Carrie M. Karn, who was born in Alama- 
kee county, Iowa, March 25, 1855. Her 
parents, Helga and Hellen Ness, came to 
America in 1844:, and are still residents of 
Iowa. Two children have been born to 
Ilalver and Carrie Ness — Mary, born June 
1, 1878; and Hellen, born April 5, 1879. 
The family are members of the Norwegian 
Lutheran Church of Grove City. "When the 
Indian outbreak came in 1862, Halver was 
but twelve yeai-s old, yet the work of a man 
devolved upon him, and he remembers many 
incidents of the memorable reign of terror. 



^^ILAS H. CASWELL, one of the pio- 
'5^§) neers of T'nion Grove township, is the 
son of Carlos and Anna Caswell, who were 
natives of Vermont. He was born at Bromj)- 
ton, Quebec, Canada, October 22, 1827, and 
Avas reared upon a farm until his nineteenth 
year. For a few years he was sa\vyer in a 
sawmill, commencing life on his own account 
when twenty-four years old. August 9, 1853, 
he was married to Miss Fannie E. McCrea, 
the daughter of Eobert and Elizabeth P. 
McCrea, who was born March 4, 1832, at 
Castle Fin, Ireland, of Scottish parents. She 
had resided in the land of her birth until 
eighteen 3'ears of age, coming to Canada in 
1850. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Caswell 
came to the United States, November 3, 1854, 
arriving in St. Anthon}', Minn., with but 
$2.50 in their jiossession. The following 
February they removed to Monticello, Wright 
county, where he took up a claim and made 
his home until his removal to Union Grove 
township, this county, in 1857. While at St. 
Anthony, he was engaged in carpentering, 
and helped finish the first brick building 
erected in Minneapolis. In 1856 he came 
here, as detailed elsewhere, and, going back, 
sold out and moved his family here, as above 
mentioned. 

He preempted some 160 acres of land on 
sections 23 and 24, in the town of Union 
Grove, where he lived at the time of the 
Indian outbreak in 1862, a history of which 
is given in detail elsewhere in this volume. 
Like all of the rest of the settlers here, that 
fall he and his family left, for safer quarters, 
and made their home on a farm in Wright 
county for two years. In 18»)4 he returned 
to Union Grove, where he made his home 
until 1876, during which time he had filled 
several local offices. At that date he 
removed to Stevens county where he lived 
for three years, afterwai'd moving back to 
Union Grove, where he has a fine farm, 



MEEKEK COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



459 



besides owning a quarter section in Brown 
county, Dakota, having some 380 acres in 
all. Mr. and Mrs. Caswell are the parents 
of five children— Miranda F. E., born June 
26, 1854, Brompton, Quebec, Canada; Ed- 
win H., born April 22, 1857, Monticello, 
Minn. ; Addie J., born February 13, 1862, 
Union Grove, Minn. ; Oscar C, born Octo- 
ber 29, 1866 ; and Ernest F., born August 2, 
1869, same place. The eldest, now Mrs. J. 
H. Murray, of Marshall county. Dak., is the 
mother of three children — Lura E., born 
April 7, 1876; Pearl C, deceased, born in 
1878 ; and Berna D., born in January, 1887. 
Addie, Mrs. A. Matteson, of Castle, Mont., 
has two children living — Bei'tha G., born 
December, 16, 1879; and Earl L., March 31, 
1884 ; she had three more, now deceased. 



M. WANVIG, a resident of section 36, 
Acton township, is one of the most 
prominent citizens of Meeker county. He is 
a native of Norway, born June 20, 1831, and 
a son of Olaavis and Johanna Wanvig. His 
father followed the business of a general 
merchant in Norway until the time of his 
death. In 1861 D. M. Wanvig came to the 
New World, and settled in Quebec, Canada, 
where he engaged in farming and was also 
an interpreter for the Grand Trunk Com- 



pany 



in their emigration business. In 1868 



he settled in St. Paul, having in the mean- 
time begun railroading, which he followed 
for a number of years. In the spring of 1870 
he removed to Litchfield, being then engaged 
in railroad contracting,and in superintending 
the laying of tracks. In March, 1873, he 
purchased a farm on section 36, Acton town- 
ship, and moved his family upon it. This 
has since been his home, with the exception 
of the years from 1881 to 1885, inclusive, 
Avhen he was a resident of Litchfield, and 
where he still owns a magnificent residence. 



When Mr. Wanvig purchased his farm there 
was but fifty-two acres broke. He has added 
to the place until he now has 320 acres in 
all, 160 of which is under cultivation, and it 
is one of the most valuable farms in the 
county. Mr. Wanvig devotes his attention 
to general farming and stock-raising, the 
latter particularly. Mr. AVanvig was mar- 
ried in Norway, in 1852, to Marie Louisa 
Enebo, and they were blessed with four chil- 
dren, as follows — Augusta, born March 31, 
1853; John Olof, born December 1, 1854; 
George Martin, born February 16, 1856, and 
Marcus, born February 8, 1858. His first 
wife died in Norway, on the 16th of Febru- 
ary, 1858. After coming to Canada, Mr. 
Wanvig was married again, this time to 
Elizabeth Dudy. Three children have blessed 
this union — Daniel, Matilda and Adolph. 

Mr. Wanvig has been prominently identi- 
fied with railroad building in the Northwest. 
When he began his railroad work the present 
Manitoba line was known as the St. Paul & 
Pacific, and he had a $16,000 contract on 
that line. He built the Winona Road from 
Marshall west to Chachaska, now Water- 
town ; also built the track on the line from 
Morris west to Breckenridge ; and the track 
from Barnesville to twenty-eight miles north 
of Crookston. When he settled at Litchfield 
the terminus of the line was at Benson. In 
political matters Mr. Wanvig is a republican, 
and is one of the leading members of that 
party in the county. From 1874 until 1883, 
he was, under the republican administration, 
railway postal clerk from St. Paul to St. 
Vincent, his home during this time, however, 
being in Meeker county. It is worthy of 
mention that the Indian battle which is 
mentioned at length in the historical depart- 
ment of this work was fought on section 35, 
of Acton township, on land now owned by 
Mr. Wanvig. One of the victims was buried 
there, but the remains were afterward taken 
up and re-interi'ed at Hutchinson. 



460 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



^^AMUEL A. DORMAN, aix-omincntand 
"^i^ resjiected old settlor residing on sec- 
tion 17, Kingston township, dates his resi- 
dence in Meeker connty the year 1857, and is 
therefore one of tiie best known citizens in 
the eastern part of the county. Afr. Dorman 
is a native of Washington connty. Me., born 
on the2J:th of January, 18-13. His early life 
was spent in attending school in his native 
State, and in 1857, with his parents, he came 
to Meeker county, Minn., and they located 
on section 17, Kingston township, where he 
still resides. His mother is dead and his 
father is still living. They were here all 
through the Indian outbreak and all through 
the most trying times in the history of the 
county. ]\rr. Dorman, the subject of our 
sketch, was married in December, 1873, to 
Miss Martha Gable, a native of Kentuck}', 
and a daughter of David Gable and wife. 
Her mother is dead and her father is still liv- 
ing. Mr. and Mrs. Dorman are the parents 
of four children — named, Jesse, Elmer, Ilat- 
tie and Ada — two girls and two boys. 

Mr. Dorman has taken an active interest 
in pui)lic mattei's, and has been prominentl}' 
identified with the official history of the 
township, having held various local offices. 
In political matters he is a democrat. Dur- 
ing his early manhood Mr. Dorman follow^ed 
wag(jn-malcing to some extent, but the prin- 
cipal portion of his life has been devoted to 
farming, and he is now engaged in diversified 
farminf; and stock-raising. 



JASPER WRIGHT, an enterprising farmer 
of Collinwood township, living on sec- 
tion 4, was l)orn in Yancey county, N. C, 
January 4, 1837, and is tlie son of Jonathan 
and Mary (Bailey) Wright, both of whom 
were natives of the " same State." When 
he was a boy of six or seven years old, his 
parents removed to Russell county, Va.. 



where he was reared to manhood. He re- 
mained at home until his marriage, after 
which he started for himself on one of his 
father's farms, where he remained until July 
19, 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, 
Fiftieth Virginia Infantry, and served until 
he was wounded and cajjtured. On being 
paroled he returned to his home, where he 
remained until 1865, when he removed to 
Lawrence county, Ohio, liut the following 
October, came to Collinwood township, this 
county. He took up a claim of 81 acres, on 
section 4, where he now lives. His entire 
wealth, when he got here, was ^33, his gun, 
a spider, and a dinner kettle, and his wife, 
and two children. He invested three dollars 
in provisions, and the balance of his money 
in a cow, and settled down to frontier life. 
His brother, Waitsdel, and his family were 
with him, and, as the brother was sick, he 
was the only support of both families, and 
kept them going in venison brought down 
by his gun. For three years Ijieir only meat 
was of this variet}'. He is now well fixed, 
however, and enjoys life in a more comfort- 
able fashion. 

Mr. Wright was married January 6, 1858,. 
to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, who was born in 
Russell county, Va., August 26, 1840, and is 
the daughter of William and Dycia Taylor. 
They have had a family of five children. 



-^. 



^; ECKSTROM. Prominent among the 
[^' leading citizens of Dassel village is ex- 
sheriff Ekstrom, of whom this sketch is writ- 
ten. His life, which began in Sweden, Jan- 
uary 20, 1845, has been a diversified one, 
his eai'ly years having been passed as a sea- 
man upon the boisterous waters of the North 
Atlantic, and the more placid Pacific Ocean, 
and in which profession he rose to the posi- 
tion of mate. Growing tired of the monot- 
ony of sea life he came to New Yoi-k in 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



46 r 



1S67, and in company witli K. and G. Rai- 
ling, came directly through to Meeker county 
by way of St. Paul. During the winter of 
that year he followed hunting and trapping 
with the other two men, and in August, 
1867, the three purchased 1100 acres of land, 
all of which they afterwards sold except 300 
acres which Mr. Ekstroui kept for his own 
use, and on which he carried on farming. 
This was on section 3, town of Greenleaf, 
and upon it he took up agricultural pursuits, 
and remained there until 1874, when he sold 
out, and removing to Litchfield, entered into 
partnership with A. T. Koerner, in the real 
estate business, under the firm name of 
Ekstrom & Koerner. lie remained in this 
until 18S1. Having been elected sheriff of 
the county in 1877 he assumed the duties of 
that office and held it for six years, having 
been twice re-elected. After the termination 
of his official career he entered upon the 
handling of grain at ]\Iorton, where he re- 
mained until 188G when he came to Dassel 
where he is engaged in the real estate busi- 
ness with Peter Johnson, although he still 
lives at the county seat. 

Mr. Eckstrom was married in 1872 to Miss 
Helen Sauvror, a native of Sweden, and they 
are the parents of four cliildren. 

^H^HEODORE EHLERS, of the firm of 
^jJU Shaw & Ehlers, millers and grain 
dealers, Litchfield, is a native of Mecklen- 
burg-Schwerin, Germany, born December 
10, 1837, and is the son of Christian and 
Amelia Ehlers. He received his education 
in his native land, and tliere acquired some 
knowledge of the milling business. He came 
to the United States in January, 1851, while 
yet a young man, and followed llie profession 
of a miller, through various parts of Wisconsin, 
until 1863, when he located in the city of 
Minneapolis. There he was employed in the 



old Cataract mill, which was the first and, at. 
that time, the only merchant mill in the 
Flour City. After two years spent as miilei- 
in that establishment, Mr. Ehlers started the- 
Arctic, now St. Anthony mill, which he 
operated for about a year. The next two 
succeeding years were spent by him in the- 
same line of business at Chaska, this State, 
after whicii he returned to Minneapolis,, 
where he entered the Wasliburn flour mill, 
now known as " B " mill. He started the 
Zenith and the Galaxy mills, and several 
others, and made his home there until 1877- 
At that time he came here, and in company 
with Mr. Shaw, purchased the Litchfield 
flouring mill, and established the present 
business. Shortly after its purchase the new 
proprietors remodeled the mill, and changed 
it to the roller system, and improved it 
throughout, making it first-class in every res- 
pect. In 1882 the firm erected their eleva- 
tor. They are also engaged in the flour and 
feed business in Litchfield. 

Mr. Ehlers is one of the active members of 
the Masonic fraternity, having been made a 
Mason in Hennepin Lodge, No. 4. He is a 
member of Rabboni Ciiapter, No. 39, and 
Melita Commandery, No.l7, of this place, and 
he and his wife both belong to Fidelity 
Chapter, Eastern Star degree, of which Mrs. 
Ehlers, formerly Miss Emma E. Elkins, is the- 
present secretai'v. 



-*-: 



J^ARTIN O. NESS, is a well-known 
.^.tj^_ farmer and stock-raiser, who re- 
sides on section 32. Litchfield township. He 
is a son of Ole Halverson and Mary Ness, 
and was among the first white children born 
in Meeker county, having first seen the light 
on the old Ness homestead February 11,. 
1858. His father and mother were natives- 
of Norway, and among the first settlers of 
Meeker county, and Martin was reared on 



462 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



the farm with them. In 1881 he purchased 
the (Tuiuier-Olson farm, and commenced tlie 
business of farming on his own acconnt. In 
1SS3 he moved tlieold homestead house onto 
his ])hice, and "batched" it there until Sep- 
tember 13, 1884, wlien lie was nuirried to 
Hannah Peterson, who was born in JS'orwav, 
June 23, 1859. She is the daughter of Peter 
and Tisa Peterson Schonhoveh Martin Ness 
and wife have two children — Oscar Peter, 
born October IS, 1885 ; Charles Pandolph, 
born January 31, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Ness 
are both members of tiie Norwegian Luth- 
eran Church of Grove City. 

Carl O. Nkss, of Litchfield townsliip, is 
another sturdy young farmer, who was born 
Meeker county, the date of his birth being 
July 12, 1805, and his parents being Olellai- 
verson and Mary Ness. He is of that hardy 
Norse stock that make successful farmers and 
substantial citizens. He owns a quarter sec- 
tion of land adjoining the farms of his broth- 
ers Martin and Halver, and devotes his entire 
attention to farming and stock-raising,making 
his home witli Martin. He is a member of 
the Protestant Episcopal Church of Litch- 
Jfield. 

— -^: 

)ATRICK MCCAFFREY, one of the most 
prominent and well-to-do farmers and 
stock-raisers in the northern portion of the 
county, resides on section 22, Manannah 
township. He was born in County Tyrone, 
Ireland, on the 8th of ]\Iarch, 1822, and is a 
son of Patrick and Ellen (McCarran) McCaf- 
frey. He grew to manhood in his native 
land, acquiring the same habits of industry 
Jinil frugality which are characteristic of the 
race from which he springs. His jiarents 
died in the land of his birth, and in 1844 he 
started for America, landing in Boston, and 
went direct to Lowell, Mass., where he set- 
tled. He remained there until Mav, 1865, 



when he came "West to Meeker county, Minn., 
aud took a claim in Harvey townshij), where 
T. W. Dougherty now lives. He dug a cel- 
lar, got read\' to buiki. and made some other 
improvements, after which he and his wife 
returned to Lowell, Mass., for the rest of the 
familv and i»-oods. Durinj;' their absence a 
party jumped their claim, and Mr. McCaffrey 
lost his homestead. The family remained 
in Massachusetts one year, and then returned 
to Meeker county, Minn., and Mr. McCaffrey 
took a claim and built a house on section 30, 
in what is now Harvey township. After 
living there for one year they were burned 
out and lost all they had. When this mis- 
fortune overtook them they returned to Low- 
ell, Mass., and remained there until 1876, 
when thej' again settled in Meeker county, 
locating on section 22, Manannah township, 
where they still reside. Mr. McCaffrey has 
a valuable farm of 200 acres, where he car- 
ries on general farming and stock-raising. 

In 1842 Mr. McCaffrey was mai'ried to 
Elizabeth Quinn, and tiiey have been blessed 
with nine children, as follows — Patrick, Rose 
Ann, Owen, James, Thomas, Mary J., John, 
Mary E. and Charles II., all of whom are 
living except Patrick, Mary J. and Charles 
H. The family are members of the Catholic 
Church. 

Mrs. McCaffrey's ]iarents were natives of 
Ireland. The father died in his native land, 
and the mother in Lowell, Mass. 



-««: 



/^HARLES F. SPAULDING, a respected 
^^p and prominent old settler residing on 
section 22, Forest Prairie, and a successful 
farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Oxford 
county. Me., born on the 14tli of April, 1850, 
and is a son of I'enjainin Y. S|)aulding. His 
parents are still living in Forest Prairie town- 
ship, in which they were among the earliest 
settlers. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



463 



While Charles was still 3'oung his parents 
removed to Scott county, and in 1866, they 
removed to Meeker county. When our sub- 
ject was only fifteen years of age, in Febru- 
ary, 1865, he enlisted in the First Minnesota 
Heavy Artillery, and went into the service, 
and joined his company at Chattanooga, 
Tenn. He remained in the service until July 
29, 1865, when he was honorably discharged 
at Prairie du Chien, Wis. He then returned 
to Scott county, Minn., and the following 
year the family settled in Forest Prairie 
township, where they have since lived. Our 
subject owns 2i0 acres of land in all, and de- 
votes his attention to general farming and 
stock-raising. He has been engaged in farm- 
ing most of the time since attaining his ma- 
jority, although for four years following 
1880, he carried the mail from Litclifield to 
Forest City. 

Charles F. Spaulding was married on the 
1st of February, 1874, to Miss Josephine 
Vossen, a native of Germany, and a daugh- 
ter of Christian Vossen, a respected resident 
of Forest Prairie township. Mr. and Mrs. 
Spaulding have been the parents of five chil- 
dren, as follows — Joseph, Frank, Charles, 
Lydia and Julia. 

In political matters Mr. Spaulding is a re- 
publican. He has taken an active interest in 
township and educational matters, and has 
been prominently identified with the official 
history of the town. 



%y^ m. OLSON, 
tial farmer. 



-^^ 



a respected and influen- 
who lives on section 21, 
Greenleaf township, was born in Sweden, 
on the 11th of February, 1839. His father 
died in Sweden, and he was brought up on a 
farm, learning the same habits of economy 
and industry which characterize a majority 
of that nationality. In 1867 he sailed for 
the United States and settled at Eock Island, 



111. He remained there until 1873, when he 
removed to Meeker county, Minn., and pur- 
chased the farm in Greenleaf township 
where he now lives. He has beeii ver}^ suc- 
cessful in his farming operations, notwith- 
standing he has met with several reverses in 
losing or getting poor crops, but his industry 
has not been without its reward and he is 
now in comfortable circumstances. He now 
has 100 acres of land, substantial buildins's 
and a good lot of stock. 

Mr. Olson Avas married in 1876 to Johanna 
C. Johnson. In religious matters Mr. Olson 
is a member of the Church of God ; and in 
political affairs he affiliates with the repub- 
lican party. His mother resides with 
him. 



rVlREN W. TOPPING, who is engaged 
^/ in the hay and straw baling business 
in the village of Litchfield, was born in 
Greenleaf, Meeker county, November 11, 
1860, and is the son Charles G. and Louisa 
M. ( Br iggs) Topping. 

The father of the subject of this memoir, 
one of the pioneers of this county, was born 
in Tompkins county, N. Y., April 11, 1834, 
and made his home there, with his parents, 
until 1855. In the spring of that year he 
removed to Wisconsin, where he lived until 
the fall of 1857, when he came to this vicin- 
ity, settling at Hutchinson, McLeod county. 
The following spring he took up a claim on 
section 10, Cedar Mills township, which be 
commeneed improving as a fai'm. In Janu- 
ary, 1860, he returned to his native State, 
and was there united in marriage to Miss 
Louisa M. Briggs, and with her returned the 
following spring to his farm. 

In 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Fourth 
Minnesota Infantr}^ and served until Sep- 
tember, 1864, when lie was honorably dis- 
frora the service for 



charged 



disability, 



464 



MEEKER COUNTY, ^MINNESOTA. 



owing to disease contracted in tiie army. 
His family, at the time of tlie Indian out- 
break, having fled back to New York State, 
he, on receiving his discharge, went there 
4ind bi'ought them back to Minnesota, and 
made his home upon his fanii until 1872, 
when he sold out and came to the village of 
Litchfield, where he now lives. His wife, 
the mother of our subject, and three broth- 
•ers and one sister, died February 14, 1888. 
She was a most estimable woman, an affect- 
ionate wife and indulgent motlier, and who 
possessed the esteem of all witii whom she 
•came in contact. 

Oren W. remained with liis parents while 
they lived upon the farm, but some time 
after coming to Litchfield, commenced to 
learn the barber's trade, which he followed 
for some time, after which he established his 
present business. 



MELS JOHNSON, a successful and en- 
terprising fai'mer ami stock-raiser, re- 
siding on section 32, Union Grove township, 
is a native of Sweden, born July 17, 1836, 
-and a son of John and Maggie Hanson. His 
earlv life Avas spent in his native land, where 
he learned the mason's trade, and acquin^d 
the habits of industry and frugality which 
-are characteristics of the Swedish people. 

In 1880 he came to the United States and 
made his way direct to Meeker county, Minn. 
JB[e first located at Grove City, where he fol 
lowed his trade, and remained there for four 
years. At the expiration of that time he 
came to Union Grove township and pur- 
chased 160 acres of land on section 32, where 
he now lives. His resitience is a comfortable 
new frame building, and he is rapidly getting 
his farm in tillable condition. 

Mr. Johnson was married in Octobei', 1863, 
in Sweden, to Miss Hannah Peterson, a 
■<laughter of Peter and Hannah Trolson. She 



was born in Sweden on the 18th of Decem- 
ber, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been 
the parents of five children, three of whom 
are dead. The two living children are as 
follows — Mary, born May 18, 1866; and 
John, born May 13, 1868. Mary married 
O. C. Olson, and now lives in Harvey town- 
ship, and John is still at home. 



^^^^ 



[M^RANK Mclaughlin, a prominent, 
IP^ energetic, and industrious farmer, liv- 
ing upon section 10, Manannah township, is 
a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, born 
March 16, 1828, and son of William and 
Alice A. McLaughlin. He remained beneath 
the parental roof until some twenty-three 
years of age, but foreseeing the utter impos- 
sibility of ever acquiring a competency in 
his oppressed native land, he came, like many 
of his countrymen, to the free shores of 
America to hew out his own fortunes. Af- 
ter spending about a year in the cotton mills 
at Lowell, Mass., he repaired to Boston and 
found employment in a rolling mill, where 
he continued for three years. The next seven 
years were passed in various places, en-^ 
gaged at various emplo^'ments, and the 
spring of 1861 found him in Columbus, Ind. 
While there, April 16. of tiiat year, he en- 
listed in Company K, Tliirteenth Indiana 
Infantry, and was in the engagement at Iiicli 
Mountain, W. Va., July 11, 1861, and the 
balance of the campaign under Gen. George 
B. McClellan. On March 23, 1862, he was 
with his regiment and took part in the first 
battle at Winchester. During the Chicka- 
hominy campaign he jiarticipated in the 
Seven Days' battles which tei'minated at Mal- 
vern Hill. From that time on Mr. McLaugh- 
lin's fortunes were those of the regiment, 
one of the best known in the Indiana con- 
tingent in the Armies of the Potomac and 
Shenandoah. He served at the siege of Pe- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



465 



tersburg, Va., in the spring of 1864, and was 
discharged at Indianapohs on Jul}' t, 1864. 
He was three times wounded, once severely. 
On his discliarge Mr. McLaughlin returned 
to Lowell and went to work in a factory 
there. In April, 1806, he came to Meeker 
county, and settled where he now lives. He 
has made all tlie improvements here and en- 
dured while doing so, all the hardships of 
early settlers. He was married on the 31st 
of July, 1861, to Miss Anna Breen, who has 
become the mother of four children — Wil- 
liam J., born June 30, 1865 ; Mary A., born 
January 10, 1868; Maggie E., born Febru- 
ary 21, 1871 ; and Alice C, born January 
13, 1877. 



EORGE B. STROBECK, a progressive 
^^pr farmer and stock-raiser living near 
the village of Litchfield, is a native of New 
York, and was born in St. Lawience c(unty, 
July 6, 1816. He was reared on the fai'm 
with his parents, Henry and Fanny Strol)eck, 
and was primarily educated in the common 
schools of tlije county, and afterward re- 
ceived an academic course of four years in 
the St. Lawrence Academy. In September, 
1868, he was united in marriage with Celes- 
tia M. Thomas. They have one child, Fred- 
erick, born December 1, 1872. 

George continued the conduct of his 
father's farm some five years after his mai*- 
riage, and then purchased a farm in the 
same neighborhood, which he operated until 
1877, when failing health compelled him 
to make a change. In the fall of that year 
he came to Meeker county, and purchased 
the northeast quarter of section 12, Litchfield 
townshi]i. and the following spring brought 
his family on, and began life anew on a piece 
of land without a dollar's worth of improve- 
ments on it, and after having been reduced 
in health and circumstances b}' two j^ears of 



severe sickness. He now has one of the best 
improved farms in the township, and has 
fullv regained his health and strength. His 
antecedents were i-emarkable for their lon- 
gevity, his grandfather being 1073'ears old at 
the time of his death, and his gi'andmother 
103, while his great-grantlmother is known 
to have reached the age of 120. Mr. Stro- 
beck is a model farmer, and devotes his en- 
tire attention to the improvement of his 
farm, and is getting a fair start in the intro- 
duction of high grade stock. The family 
are members of the Protestant Episco- 
pal Church. In politics Mr. Strobeck 
is a staunch republican, and in 1887 was 
elected to the board of supervisors on that 
ticket. 



-^fS^3-4>-> 



l^RANK J. TWOMBLY, one of the pro- 
JP^ gressive farmers of Cosmos township, 
living on section 23, is the son of James and 
Ellice Twombly, and is a native of McKeene 
county, Penn., born in 1857. He was reared 
among the hills, and amid the })icturesQue 
surroundings of his native county, until he 
was about six or seven years of age, when 
his parents removed to St. Anthony, this 
State, where they made their home until 
1878, when they came to Meeker county and 
located on the jilace, now owned and occu- 
pied by Frank. The latter accompanied his 
parents here, and remained with them until 
1884, when he purchased the homestead of 
his fathei', upon which he now carries on 
agricultural pursuits. His father, after dis- 
posing of his ]iroperty, emigrated to far-off 
Oregon, settled there anil is still a resident 
of that State. Frank Twombly has held 
several minor local offices as a ])reparatory 
school to the more important ones which, 
no doubt, the future holds in store for him. 
He is a careful lousiness man, and holds the 
respect of all who know him. 



466 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



^^•■"^ELS A. DRAXTEN is one of the thrifty 
and enterprising- farmers of Acton 
townsiiip. Like so many of the residents of 
the western part of Meeker country, he is a 
native of Norway, born on tlie Oth of Octo- 
ber, 1850, the names of his immediate ances- 
tors being Andrew F. and Mary Draxten. 
His early life was spent in his native 
land, hut in 1SG9 he sailed for the United 
States, and upon his arrival, came direct to 
Minneapolis, where he was employed in saw- 
mills. Seven years later he came to Meeker 
county and ]iurchased 111 acres of land on 
section 17, in Acton township, where he now 
lives. He has a good farm and valuable im- 
provements — a neat twostory house, 26x32 
feet in size, with an addition 14x1-1, and also 
a substantial barn 28x51: feet in dimensions. 
His parents live with him, and he has four 
brothers who are Meeker county farmers, all 
of whom are married. 

Mr. Draxten is a democrat in political mat- 
ters, and takes an active interest in all 
matters affecting the welfare of his town- 
ship. He is a well-posted and intelligent 
citizen, and is highly respected by his neigh- 
bors. He has held a number of township 
offices ; was elected supervisor in 1881 and 
served one term, and in March, 1886, was 
elected township treasurer. 



•■e>--S^^"4^- 



JTeSSE V. BRANHAM, SR., one of the 
pioneers of this locality, was born 
April IS, 1803, in Scott county, K3^, and lived 
there until 1811, when he removed with his 
parents to Franklin,Jefferson county, Ind. He 
learned the millwright's trade there and fol- 
lowed it for some years, at one time owning 
a half-interest in the mill at Franklin, and 
an interest in the woolen mill at the same 
place. In 1857 he removed to Meeker 
county, and took up a claim in the town of 
Litchfield, where he made his home until the 



tragic days of the Indian outbreak in 1862, 
when he took his family to a place of secur- 
it}', and, although then nearly sixty years of 
age, returned to help defend the country. He 
it was that volunteered to ride to the State 
capital, with the demand of the settlers for 
help, a service of danger and fatigue, as the 
road then was nearly one hundred miles 
long. After fulfilling his duty here he went 
to Minneapolis, where iiis family were and 
and there spent the winter. Inthe springof 
1863, he and his family returned to Forest 
City, and two years later to the old home- 
stead. In lS6i he was elected to the office 
of county treasurer, and served for six years. 
In 1874 Mr. Branhara sold his farm and 
moved to the village of Litchfield, where 
he now resides. He was married Decem- 
ber 21, 1821, to Miss Mary Butler, and they 
have been the parents of eight children, 
four of whom are living, namely — Jesse V. 
Jr., Wilham, Mrs. Gullet, and Mrs. E. A. 
Campbell. Mrs. Branham died June 12, 1888, 
at Litchfield. 



^TlCK BAUER. The subject of this bi- 
iffjl ography, a respected and enterprising 
farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 
7, Forest Prairie township, is a native of 
Prussia, German}', born on the 20th of 
March, 1853, and a son of Goodheart and 
Mary (Earnest) Bauer. In 1865 the family 
sailed for the United States, and after a 
voyage lasting for forty days they landed at 
New York City, and at once proceeded by 
way of 'St. Paul to St. Cloud, in Stearns 
county, Minn., where they were among the 
first settlers. They settled on a farm about 
nine miles from St. Cloud, and that was the 
home of the parents until the time of their 
death. Goodheart Bauer and wife were the 
parents of a large family of children, the 
names of their offspring being as follows — 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



469 



Lena, Man', Lizzie, Gertrude, Lucy, Katie, 
•Peter, John Peter, Michael, Nick, Matt and 
Hobart. 

Nick Bauer, the subject of our present 
sketch, was married on the 14th of Septem- 
ber, 1879, at Minneapolis, to Miss Lizzie 
Fenniman, a native of German}'. She be- 
came the mother of one child, a girl named 
Marj', and the mother died in June, 1880. 

Mr. Bauer's present wife was formerly 
Miss Marj' Roucli. The}' were married at 
St. Nicholas, Stearns county, on the 9th of 
November, 1882. They are the parents of 
two living children, named Anna and Peter. 

In political matters Mr. Bauer affiliates 
with the democratic pai-ty. The family are 
exemplary members and active supporters of 
the Catholic Church. 



r^' 




ICHARD DOYLE, a progressive and 
wide-awake farmer of Darwin town- 
ship, has his home on section 10. He is a 
native of Upper Canada, born about the year 
1836, and is the son of Terence and Margaret 
Doyle, who were natives of the beloved but 
down-trodden island of Ireland. Richard 
remained for many years in his Canadian 
home engaged in tilling the soil, for he was 
alwaj's a farmer until 1867, when he came to 
the States and settled in Meeker county, 
where he now lives, and where he has con- 
tinued to make his home ever since. 

While living in Canada he was united in 
marriage with Miss Mary Enright, who bore 
him nine children, of whom the following 
six still survive — Michael, John, James A., 
Richard T., Mary and Terence. Their oldest 
child, Terence, died in Canada, as did Pat- 
rick, in 1867 ; Margaret died here April 14, 
1888, and is buried in Darwin. 

Mr. Doyle has given a great amount of 
attention to mixed farming, and is authority 
with those who know him best in respect to 



his calling. His success since coming here 
is entirely due to his persistent labor and 
good judgment, and is an excellent example. 
There is no tlowery road to success, nothing 
but diligent work, and Mr. Doyle has proven 
that he has found it so. He is a strict mem- 
ber of the Roman Catholic Church. In pol- 
itics he is a sincere and abiding democrat, 
believing that in that party lies the safest 
rules for the preservation of our National 
existence. 



-*-i 



I 



►^^ 



OHN WISE, who is successfully engaged 
'0 in farming and stock-raising, upon sec- 
tion 29, Kingston township, is a native of 
Miami county, Ohio, born April 8, 1835, 
and is the son of Samuel and Barbara (Shope) 
Wise, who were natives of Lancaster county, 
Penn. His father emigrated from the 
" Buckeye State," in his later days, to Indi- 
ana, where he died at the age of seventy -nine 
years nine months and thirteen days. The 
mother died in 1869. Both were members 
sf the German Baptist Church, and were the 
parents of fourteen children, who all grew to 
manhood and womanhood. Their names 
were — Jacob, John, Samuel, Andreas, Levi, 
Isaac, Abram, Ilenr}', Daniel, Elizabeth, 
Sallie, Teena, Barbara, and Marj'. 

John Wise was reared in Miami county, 
Ohio, upon the paternal farm, where he 
lived until attaining his majority, receiving 
in the halc3'on days of youth the elements 
of a good education. He commenced farm- 
ing in his native State, and from there moved 
over into Indiana, where he lived until 1879, 
when he came to Minnesota, locating in 
Meeker county, on the place where he now 
lives. 

The subject of this historical notice was 
united in marriage, January 2, 1855, with 
Miss Sarah Christian, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and daughter of Solomon and PolMe 



470 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Christian, natives of the "Keystone State" 
also. By this union there have been six 
children born, namely — Samuel, living in 
Wisconsin; and Anna, Fannie, Elizabeth, 
Barbara, and Sara Jane, all of whom are 
married, but the son. In his politics Mr. 
Wise is a steady adherent to the principles 
of the republican ])arty, and is a representa- 
tive man of tlie township. 



MELS EKMAN is a farmer on section 
3i, Swede Grove township, where he 
carries on general farming and stock raising. 
Mr. Ekman is a son of Swan and Ingra Swan- 
son, and is a native of Sweden, born on the 
2d of October, 1853. He came to the United 
States in ]S71, and made his way directly to 
Meeker county, Minn. He worked for farm- 
ers in this part of the State until about 1877, 
when he bought a farm of Peter Elofson. 
Two months later he traded this for a farm 
in Douglas county, but did not move on to 
it, and soon afterward traded it for a farm 
near Grove City, in this county. Two 
months later he sold this and went to Devil's 
Lake, where he worked on the railroad one 
summer, and then returned to Swede Grove. 
In the spriAg he bought a farm of George 
Okeson, where he now lives. He has 120 
acres of land on sections 3.3 and 3-t, his build- 
ings being on tiie latter section. By industry 
and economy Mr. Ekman has secured a good 
start, and is in comfortable circumstances. 
Jrle was a poor man when he came here — so 
poor, in fact, that he owed for his passage 
from his native land to the New World, and 
he worked for two years to pay the debt. 
Mr. Ekman was married to Miss Ellen An- 
derson, a daughter of Bengt and Betsy Han- 
son. They have been blessed with two chil- 
dren—Betsy, born March 21, 1884, and An- 
drew, born February 2, 1887. Mrs. Ekman 
was born in Sweden on the 28th of Novem- 



ber, 1859. Her mother is dead, and her 
father lives in Swede Grove township. Mr. 
Ekman's father is dead, and his mother is 
still living in Sweden, her native land. In 
political matters Mr. Ekman is a republican. 



-«-; 



^III^HE SUBJECT of this sketch, W. J. 
XiL WHririNGTON, the proprietor of the 
Litchfield greenhouse and market garden, is 
a native of Sussex, England, born December 
28, 1863. From the time that he was old 
enough he spent his time in a greenhouse and 
garden in his old home, on the south coast of 
his native land, until he was about fourteen 
years of age, when he came to this country 
and located in Union Grove township, in this 
county. He passed some three yeai-s in that 
vicinity, and then removed to Litclitield. 
The first six months he was here he spent in 
attendance at the high school, after which, 
for about four years, he was employed at 
farm labor. In the fall of 1885 he leased two 
town lots on the corner of Third and Hol- 
comb streets, with the intention of establish- 
ing a floral and plant conservatory for local 
and shipping trade. He broke the first 
ground for this enterprise September 12, 
1885, and by his energy and perseverance 
soon built up an active trade and an enviable 
reputation. These grounds proving too small 
for his rapidly increasing business, in the fall 
of 1887 Mr. Whittington purchased some five 
acres of ground in Greenleaf's addition to the 
town, a portion of which he is laying out as 
a private park, for the purpose of floral dis- 
plays, which is to bear the name of Garfield 
Park. In this our subject proposes to show 
the growth and culture of the various flow- 
ers and plants susceptible of outdoor exposure 
in this climate, and exhibit some features of 
landscape gardening. It is the intention to 
hold annual horticultural shows and festivals 
here, given by the generosity of the propri- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



471 



etor to his friends and patrons throughout 
this section of the State. In connection with 
this Mr. Whittington carries on market gar- 
dening, and being connected with the business 
part of the city by telephone, can make deliv- 
eries at short notice. He also handles all the 
various tools used in gardening, pots, and in- 
structions as to the cultivation of plants and 
flowers, and is ])repared to furnish bouquets 
and floral decorations for weddings or other 
festive occasions. 



•-«- 



M UGUST ERICKSON, The subject of 
j|£>^ this sketch is a prominent farmer 
who lives on section 15, in Greenleaf town- 
ship. He was born in Sweden October 3, 
1851, and his parents were natives of the 
same land, his father having been born in 
1809 and his mother in 1812. His father 
died when he was only twelve years of age 
and he wa-s early in life thrown upon his own 
resources. His mother 'is still living. In 
1872 he came to the United States and set- 
tled at Brocton, Chautauqua county, N. Y. 
Two years later he removed to Minneapolis, 
Minn., and renuiined there about four months 
after which he came to Meeker county, and 
settled in Greenleaf township, where he has 
since livetl. He arrived here in the fall of 
1874. He has a valuable farm, substantial 
improvements and is in prosperous circum- 
stances. He has taken an active interest in 
religious matte)'s and is a member of the 
Mission Friends Church. 

On the 20th of July, 1873, he was married 
to Christina Peterson, who is also a native 
of Sweden. Her parents were also natives 
of the same country, her mother still liv- 
ing, but the father having died several years 
ago. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson have been blessed 
with seven children, all of whom are liv- 
ing, as follows — Anna, born September 5, 
187-1; Ilildur, born June -i, 1876; Salraa, 



born May 9, 1878; Frida, born March 11, 
1880; Agda, born February 21, 1882; Ed- 
ward Eniil, born March 22, 1881 ; and Albert, 
born December 29, 1885. 



'■»-! 



WEN PRINTY, a prosperous and well- 
V^y to-do agriculturist of Darwin town- 
ship, residing on section 14, is a nat^'e of 
that gem of the sea, Ireland, born about the 
year 1831. Reared among the beautiful 
scenery of that ever-verdant isle, Mr. Prin- 
ty had no wish to leave it, were it not for 
the fact that it was almost impossible to stay 
there and enjoy more than the barest necessa- 
ries of life, so oppressed and down-trodden 
are its. people by foreign misrule. 

In October, 1860, Owen was married to 
Miss Alice McGill, a native of the same 
country, and the following year the young 
couple determined to seek a new home in 
free America, where a man could raise his 
condition if he chose. They accordingly 
embarked, and, crossing the ocean, landed at 
Quebec. From there they came direct to 
St. Paul and St. Anthony, and in the latter 
city Mr. Printy remained some five or six 
months. He then came to Meeker county, 
but after a stay at Forest City of some five 
or six months more, he was driven back to 
St. Anthony by the terrible Indian outbreak 
of 1862. Four years later, with his family, 
he left St. Anthony, where they had been 
living, and coming to Meeker county, settled 
in Darwin township, on the farm where he 
now lives, where he has ever since made his 
home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Printy are the parents of 
seven children — Ellen, Mary, Owen, Alice, 
John, Joanna and Michael, all living but 
Joanna, who died November 29, 1877. The 
family are members of the Roman Catholic 
Church. 



472 



AfEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 




ICHOLAS NELSON, a highly res- 
pected old settler of Litchlield town- 
lip, was born in Sweden, October 23, 1849. 
His father, Bengt Nelson, was born in 1815, 
and died in Meeker county, in 187-1. His 
mother, Christine Nelson, was born in Swe- 
den, in 1805, and at this date (1888) still 
lives near neighbor to Nicholas. The family 
came to America in 1850, and lived in Knox 
county, 111., till 1858, Avhen they came to 
Meeker county, by way of the river to Car- 
ver county, and took up a claim on section 
22, of what is now Litchfield township. 
Nicholas has three half brothers and one 
half sister, namely — Swan, Nels and Peter 
Swanson, and Hannah Swanson Vorys. 

At the time of the Indian outbreak the 
family, consisting of Nicholas and his father 
and mother, were living on the old claim, 
about two miles from where Litchfield vil- 
lage now stands. After receiving the warn- 
ing of the onslaught of the savages on that 
memorable 17th of August, the family took 
refuge for the night in the house of Nels 
Swanson, and they next proceeded to Forest 
City. After remaining there a short time, 
they went to Washington county and stayed 
there during the winter, returning to the 
farm in the spring. Nicholas continued to 
assist his father in carrying on the farm until 
the latter's death, when he took the hehn 
himself, and has operated it in a quiet, 
though successful way. In 1879 he was mar- 
ried to Emma Olson, a native of Sweden. 
They have four children — Charles, Josephine, 
Ellen and Alfred. 



^^►. 



-«-l 



JTOHN W. TORREY. One of tlie most 
^ successful and enterprising farmers 
of Union Grove township, is the gentle- 
man whose name heads this article. He 
is a resident of section 25, and his enter- 



prise is manifested in the substantial build- 
ings wiiich he iuis erected, and his fai'm,as a 
whole, is a credit to the township in wiiich he 
resides. 

Mr. Torrey is a son of John A. and Ann 
E. (Diamond) Torrey, and was born forty 
miles west of Detroit, in Jackson county, 
Michigan, on the 29tli of December, 1838. 
His mother died when he was still a boy of 
eight, and he remained with his father until 
he was sixteen years old, when he started 
out to earn his own way in the workL In 
1855 he came to Minnesota with his father, 
and remained here two years working on a 
farm, after wiiich he returned to Michigan. 
Three years later he came back to Minne- 
sota, and in October, 1861, he enlisted in the 
First Minnesota Battery, and went south for 
service with his company. He saw very 
active service, and participated in tiiefolhjw- 
ing battles — Shdoh, Corinth, second Corinth, 
Vicksbm-g, Champion Hill, luka, Atlanta, 
Columbia and Goldsborough. 

He remained in active service for three 
years and seven months, and was finally 
mustered out at St. Paul, on the 2d of July, 
1865. He then came to Meeker county and 
looked over the country, but did not locate 
until March, 1866, when he took eighty 
acres on section 26, in Union Grove town- 
ship. He remained there for two years and 
then sold his right, and purchasetl forty 
acres of railroad land. He has since adfled 
additional pieces, until he now owns 210 
acres of land, his buildings being located on 
section 25. 

Mr. Torre}^ was first married, December 
5, 1868, to Miss Laura Vincent, who died 
March 22, 1878. She left four children, as 
follows — Agnes, born October 26, 1870 ; 
Ilulda, born January 26, 1872 ; Jolliette E., 
born May 29, 1871; and Bernice, born May 
29, 1877; died March 7, 1878. 

Mr. Torrey's second marriage was with 
Miss Emily F. Snell, daughter of James and 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



473 



Mary Snell. She is a native of Madison 
county, Ind. 

In the winter of 1865-6, the husband of 
Mr. Torrey's sister \Yas frozen to death, and 
the care of his sister and her three cliildren, 
devolved upon liim. She was with him 
three years, when she removed to Litchfield, 
and has since married. 

Mr. Torrey has met with considerable bad 
luck. He had some $1,400 in money when 
he came to the county, but lost in all in 
three years, from various causes beyond his 
control. In 1877 the grasshoppers took his 
grain, and one year he paid $2.50 per bushel 
for seed wheat, and sold his meager crop in 
October for 50 cents per bushel. Thus luck 
ran against him until, when he bought the 
first forty of his present farm, he did 
not have a dollar. His enterprise and indus- 
trj', however, have not been unrewarded, as 
he is now one of the most comfortably 
"fi.xed" farmers in the township. He is a 
republican in political matters, and has taken 
considerable interest in township matters, 
and held various local offices, including that 
of supervisor for four years. 



^M NTHONY WAYNE COLEMAN is one 
Jt^"^^ of the leading farmers of the town of 
Collinwood, and lives on section 31, where 
he has a fine farm of 180 acres. He is a 
native of Buchanan count}', Va., and is the 
son of Richard and Nancy (King) Coleman, 
natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respect- 
ively. His father was a merchant in the vil- 
lage of Grundy, and owned a large stock 
farm besides. When the war broke out he 
joined the " Home Guards," and while absent 
from home on duty was taken prisoner by 
the Federals. By disguising himself he man- 
aged to escape, but found that the Confeder- 
ates had cleaned him out of ever3'thing in 
his absence. _ Disgusteil, he returned and 



and enlisted in the federal army, and was 
afterward killed in battle. The family, being 
left destitute, removed to Louisa, Ky., where 
they lived until 1864, at which time the fam- 
ily came to Minnesota. At that time the 
family consisted of Mrs. Coleman and her 
eight cliildren — Lewis, Joseph, Anthony, 
Mary Jane, Pricy, Ellen, Ci-osby and Carrie. 
They settled in Hutchinson, IVfcLeod county, 
where the mother died two years later, and 
the children were scattered. Anthony worked 
around from place to place until he was 
about eighteen years old, at which time 
he commenced attending school, spending 
two years in the district schools, one year 
in the Hutchinson High School and the last 
term in the State Normal. He then came 
to Collinwood, and for eleven years taught a 
portion of each year. In 1877 he purchased 
the farm where he now lives, and has made 
it his home ever since. He was married. 
April 4, 1878, to Miss Lydia McKinney, 
daughter of John and Lydia (Hicks) McKin- 
ney. By this union they have five children — 
Lydia, born January 6, 1879; Joseph, born 
August 29, 1880; James, born September 13, 
1882 ; Jane, born May 5, 1884 ; and Theresa, 
born July 7, 1886. 



-«— 



ENRY C. ROWLEY. The subject of 



this sketch is a well-known and highly 
respected farmer and stock-raiser, residing 
on section 20, Forest Prairie township, and 
an ex-I^nion soldier. 

Mr. Rowley was born in Cai'roU county, 
Ohio, on the 24th of August, 1844, and is a 
son of William and Ann (Morledge) Rowley. 
The parents were natives of England ; the 
father came to the United States, when 
seventeen, and the mother, when eleven 
years of age. They were married in Ohio. 
The}' are now both dead ; the father died 
June 23, 1877, in Bartholomew county, Ind., 



474 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



aged seventy-five; and the mother died in 
September, 1887, aged ninety six years. 
Tli-ey (Henry's parents) h:ul tliirteen cliil- 
dren. 

Henry C. Tlowley, our subject, spent liis 
school days in Jennings and i>artholoniew 
counties, Ind. On the 11th of November, 
1862, he enlisted in Company I, Sixth Indi- 
ana Volunteer Infantry, and went into 
service, participating in the battles of Green 
river, Shiloh, Corinth, Marietta, Chicka- 
mauga, and Atlanta, besides many skir- 
mishes. He was finally discharged at Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn., on the 21st of November, 
18fi5, and returned to his former home in 
Indiana. As he was only seventeen years 
old at the time of his enlistment he resumed 
his schooling, after his return from the war, 
and attended one winter term, after which 
he was emploj'ed in a saw mill, and also 
worked at mason work, having learned that 
trade. In the spring of 18S0 he went to 
Arkansas, and was on the road in the 
macliinery business for about one year, then 
lived in Little Rock, Ark., for one year, 
engaged in the milling business. In April, 
1882, he came to Meeker county, Minn., and 
purchased his present farm in Forest Prairie 
township, where he has since lived. He has 
one of the best improved and most valuable 
farms in the township. 

Mr. Rowley was married at Columbus, 
Ind., December 17, 1868, to Miss Margaret 
Irwin, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of 
William Irwin. Her fatiier was t;inner l)y 
trade, who died when she was quite young. 
Her mother married James W. Polk, and 
now lives in the same township as her 
daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Rowley are the 
parents of six children living, as follows^ 
William Orien, Luia B., George, Clarence, 
Grace, and Mattie. One child, Nora B., 
died when three years old. The famil}' are 
members of the Christian Church. 

In political matters Mr. Rowley is a repub- 



lican. He has taken an active interest in 
educational and official mattei-s, and is one 
of the leading citizens of the township in 
which he lives. 



l^ERGUS McCUSKER, the subject of this 
JP^ personal historj', a resident of section 
10, is one of the most successful and enter- 
prising farmers and stock-raisers in Ilarvey 
township. He is a native of County Tyrone, 
Ireland, and was born in September, 1827. 
His early life was spent in the land of his 
birth, where he received the severe and rigid 
discipline of industry and frugality which 
was given to lads of his nationality. On the 
1st of November, 1846, he sailed for America, 
landing at the city of New York, and a few 
days later went to Newburyport, Mass , 
where he worked in the ship-yards for sev- 
eral j'ears. From there he went to Lowell, 
Mass., where he secured work in a cotton fac- 
tory and remained until 1855. In the spring 
of that year he started west and located in 
Illinois, arriving there on the 4th of April. 
Remainino; in that State during the inter- 
vening time, in 1859 he came to Meeker 
county, Minn., and located in Harvey town- 
ship, where he still lives. Here he was liv- 
ing with his family peaceably carrying on his 
farming operations when the Indian out- 
break occurred. Mr. McCusker at once 
moved his family to Forest City, and a few 
days later to Clearwater, where he left them 
and he returned temporarily to finish his 
harvesting. In the same fall, 1862, he 
brought his family back, and has since made 
this his home without interruption. 

On the 7th of June, 1S4S, ]\[r. McCusker 
was married to Miss Margaret ]\IcNulty, and 
they have been the parents of seven children 
the two oldest of whom — Charles and Charles 
A. — are dead. The five living children are — 
James, Mary Ann, Rosella, Maggie and 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



475 



Charles. James is married. Mary Ann is 
now Mrs. Patrick McQuid, of Swift county, 
Minn. The family are active members of 
the Catholic Church. 

In political matters Mr. McCusker acts in- 
dependent of party. By his thrift, industry 
and frugality he has accumulated a fine prop- 
erty, and now has a splendid farm of 460 
acres, which is one of the best improved 
farms in Meeker county. His enterprise is 
manifested in his building improvements, 
which are a credit to any farming district. 
He has a windmill on his place arranged 
with the necessary machinery so that he can 
grind all his grain except for flour, and also 
does all such work as sawing wood, churn- 
ing, etc. 

■ ■■ > . ■ 

^LE LARSON, one of the old settlers of 
Acton township, was born in Nor- 
way, on the 9th of January, 1835, and is a 
son of Lars and Katrina Anderson. He came 
to the United States in 1855, and settled in 
Illinois, where he worked for various farmers 
until 1861, when he came to Minnesota, and 
took a homestead on section 26, in Acton 
township, where he now lives. Mr. Larson 
had barely got settled in his new home when 
the terrible Indian outbreak of 1862 began. 
He visited Baker's house — where the first 
murder was committed — at about eleven 
o'clock on the night of the killing, and could 
hear the Indians yelling and shooting in the 
neighborhood, some of the bullets coming so 
near that he could hear them sing as they 
passed his head. Fearing that a large force 
of Indians would come he returned to his 
homestead, and, gathering together what few 
things he could readily carry, he went to 
Forest City. The same night the Indians 
burned his house, grain, and destroyed all 
else that they could. At Forest Citj' he got 
a house to live in, and on the night of the 



attack upon Forest City he went to the stock- 
ade for safety, and the Indians burned the 
house which he had occupied. After the 
close of hostihties he returned to his farm 
and has since made it his home. He has 
been very successful in his farming opera- 
tions and is now well off. He has a com- 
fortable house and fine farm buildings. 

Mr. Larson was first married in the spring 
of 1861, to Miss Sarah Halverson, who died 
in 1870. His second marriage was with 
Mrs. Dora Hanson. Her first husband was 
Andrew Hanson, who died in Norway in 
1863, and by whom she had two children — 
Sophia and Hans, both of whom were born 
in 1855. By these marriages Mr. Larson has 
had the following children — Betsy, born 
January 9, 1863; Louisa, born in March, 
1865; Hannah, born March 1, 1867; and 
Lewis, born May 7, 1869. Betsy married A. 
0. Lawson, a general merchant of Grove 
City ; Louisa married Andrew Bjorhus, a 
farmer in Greenleaf township ; Hannah mar- 
ried Olof Olson, a farmer in Acton township; 
and Lewis is living at home Avith his parents. 

JOHN KNIGHTS, one of the leading 
stock-buyers of Litchfield, is also 
engaged in the livery business in that vil- 
lasre. He is a native of Eaton, Canada, 
born February 27, 1837, and is the son of 
"William and Catherine (Hoburn) Knights. 
Both of his parents were natives of the Em- 
erald Isle, who had come to the Dominion 
several years previous. John was reared in 
the county of his birth, upon the farm of 
his father, until he had reached the age of 
nineteen, when he came to the United States 
and located at St. Paul, this State. He 
remained in that place and in Hennepin 
county for about four years, engaged in 
lumbering, and then moved to Oshkosh, 
Wis. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in 



476 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



tlie I'^ii'st l\rinnesota Infantry, for thi-ee 
iiiontlis, and on the exjiiration of liis term 
of service, re-enlisted in the Third Alinne- 
sota Infantry. He partici])ated in the for- 
tunes of the regiment until March, 18G3, wlien 
he was mustered out for disability. Settling 
in Wright county, at the time of the out- 
break he was made scout and guide to one 
of the columns, after which he served as 
deputy provost marshal until the close of the 
war. Mr. Knights remained at farming in 
Wright county six years, and then ran a 
store at Cokato for eighteen months,and after 
spending another year in lumbei'ing, hecame 
to Litchfield and went into the livery business 
with A. L. McCarger. Four years later he 
commenced the cattle business. In 1886 the 
firm of Ross & Knights was formed. In 
April, 1864, he married Miss Helen Marr 
Jenks, a native of Illinois, who had come to 
this State in her childhood. By this union 
there have been Ijorn nine children — Henry 
H., Viola E., Gertrude E., Bertha M., Win- 
nie M.. Arthur E., AUie F., Harry M., and 
John A. 



-«- 



•«►- 



>ETER E. LARSON, a prominent citizen 
[^ of Litchfield township, was born in 
Sweden March 1, 1846, and came to Amer- 
ica and Meeker county, Minn., with his par- 
ents, John and Celia Peterson Larson, in 
1857. He was sixteen years of age Avhen the 
Indian outbreak occurred, but the duties of 
a man devolved upon him. He helped move 
the family to Forest City, then Clearwater, 
and, later on, to Anoka. While the family 
were encamped on the bank of the river 
opposite Clearwater, he started there to see 
them. The ferryman refused to take hini 
across the river, the object being to keep all 
the men and horses on this side of the river 
for use in the constantly expected confiicts 
with the Indians. But Peter had started to 



see his folks, and see them he would, at all 
hazards. So, nothing daunted, he tied his 
clothes on his back and swam the Father of 
Waters, in defiance of the mandates of the 
ferryman and all his men. During the fall 
he came liack and remained at the old home 
ail winter and the following spring and sum- 
mer, "keeping bach" witiihis brother Louis. 
After his father's death, in 1867, Peter con- 
ducted the farm, and still lives on the old 
homestead. On the 11th of June, 1870, he 
was married to Anna Oleson, daughter of Ole 
Ilawkinson. Eight children have been born 
to them, two of whom — Charles and an in- 
fant unnamed — are dead. The others are all 
at home — Josephine Albertina, Alice A., 
Geoi'ge William, Alexander, Amanda and 
Huldah. Like his brothers, Peter has ac- 
quired some fine propert}', by dint of hard 
toil and close attention to business, having a 
splenditl farm of ne.irly 400 acres. In addi- 
tion to farming, he has for many years car- 
ried on the business of threshing, and yearly 
adds a goodly portion to his earthly store by 
that means. He devotes considerable atten- 
tion to stock-raising, both native and blooded. 



-«- 



►^^ 



,'V)LE K. BJORHUS, a prominent and 
X^ii/ successful farmer residing on section 
IS, Greenleaf township, was born in Norway, 
in 1824, and is a son of Knute and Martha 
Bjorhus. In 1869 he came to America in 
company with his oldest son, Knute, and 
two years later transpoi-ted the rest of his 
family. In 1878 he purchased a tract of 
land on section 18, Greenleaf township, 
where he still resides. He has reared a 
family of seven children — Matilda, Knute, 
Lisa, Louis, Andrew, Tnga and I^eter, the 
last named of whom is dead. 

Andrew Bjouhus, fifth child of Ole K. 
Bjorhus, was born in Norway, October 6, 
1860, and came to America with the family 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



479 



in 1871. He was reared on the farm with 
his father, and in 1884 purchased a farm ad- 
joining, and commenced business forliimself. 
The same year he was married to Louisa 
Larson, a daughter of Ole (Kalvorson) Lar- 
son, who was born in Meeker county, Feb- 
ruary 10, 1865. They have one child, Maria 
Sarah, born May 26, 1887. Both are mem- 
bers of the Ness Lutheran Church, and the 
family are highly respected by all wlio know 
them. 



-*"5^{^-^- 



"T|:^aOUlS EKBOM, a fanner and stock- 
IIM^ raiser of Darwin township, living on 
section 7, is a native of Sweden, born in the 
province of Gothland, October 25, 1833. He 
remained in the land of his bii'th until 1856, 
and then immigrated to the LTnited States, 
landing in New York, from whence he came 
direct to Minnesota, and settled in Carver 
county. One year later he came to Meeker 
county, locating near where the city of Litch- 
field now stands. The first year he did what 
he could find to do, until during the year 
1859,. when he removed to Forest City and 
opened the first shoemaking shop in that 
place, and in the county. He continued 
there in that line until tiie starting of Litch- 
field, when he put up one of the first build- 
ings in that city, and opened a shoe store and 
shop for the making of foot gear. This he 
ran successfully for twelve years. In 1880 
he sold out his place and removed to the 
farm in Darwin, where he now lives. 

When the Indians murdered the Jones and 
Baker families, on the 17th of August, 1862, 
Mr. Ekbom was at the house of liis In-otlier- 
in-law, Nels Elofson, in Swede Grove, where 
they were holding a meeting to find means 
to raise mone\' with which to ])rocure substi 
tutes in the army, not desiring that any in 
their town should be drafted. Toward even- 
ing our subject started for the house of Ole 



Munson, a neighbor, and on the way met 
nine Indians, six of whom were mounted, 
who made motions for him to go back, but 
he did not understand them, and went on to 
his destination. On his return to Elofson's, 
he found these Indians there, quietly smok- 
ing their pipes, and after talking with the 
whites went north toward Manannah. Hear- 
ing the news of the killing of the settlers in 
Acton, they sat up and watched all that night 
and in the morning joined the party at the 
inquest and l)urial of the first victims of the 
massacre. Mr. Ekbom that night stayed 
with Nels Elofson, and in the morning went 
to Forest City, but a few days later went to 
St. Paul, where he remained about a year 
and then returned to Forest City. 

Februar}^ 15, 1868, Mr. Ekbom was united 
in marriage with Miss Lizzie Williams, and 
b}' this union there have been born eight 
children, all of whom ai'e living. 

In politics Mr. Ekbom is a republican, and 
in religious views affiliates with the Metho- 
dist Church. 



PETER MelNTYRE, who is engaged in 
carrying on farming upon section 14, 
of Mannanah township, is one of tiie earliest 
settlers of that jiart of the county lying 
north of Crow river. He is a native of Ire- 
land, born in 1839, but his mother dying in 
his childhood, he was taken to Scotland by 
his relatives, with whom he was reared. He 
made his home in that land of heaths and 
braes until he was almost nineteen years of 
age, at which time he concluded to cross the 
ocean and come to America. He set out and 
lantling upon Columbia's shore made directly 
for Joliet, 111., where his elder brothers were 
living. He made iiis home in that place for two 
years, but in 1860 he removed to Kansas, 
but one year later he returned to Joliet. On 
the •20th of July, 1862, our subject enlisted 



48o 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



in the Nineteenth Illinois InfantiT, which 
was a part of the famous Fifteenth Corps, 
commanded by Gen. John A. Logan. He 
participated with the regiment in many a 
hardly contested field througliout their long 
and valued service, principal among which 
were the siege and capture of Vicksburg, 
battles of Corinth, Chattanooga, Missionary 
Kidge, all the various engagments in the 
Atlanta campaign, including the capture of 
the city. At the battle of Jonesboro, Aug- 
ust 3L 1864. Peter JMcIntyre was badly 
wounded in the shoulder by a minne ball, so 
that he could not march with Shei'manto the 
sea. He was sent north on a fui'lough, alter 
spending some time in the general hospital, 
and thirty days later reportetl at Nashville, 
where he was in the convalesent hospital dur- 
ing the bloody battle fought for its posses- 
sion. On his recovery our subject was placed 
in a pioneer corps, and there served until 
June 6, 1865, when he was discharged. 

About the 11th of August, the same year, 
Mr. Mclntyre came to Meeker county and 
took up a homestead of 160 acres where he 
now lives, but which was then entirely cov- 
ered with heavy timber. He lived here off 
and on until his marriage, since which time 
he has made it his home. He was married 
November 7, 1870, at Forest City, to Miss 
Catharine Klaas. They have a family of 
ten children — James, Mary, John, Nellie, 
Thomas F., Peter, Edward, Matilda, Philip 
Sheridan, and Ilosanna. Mr. Mclntyre is 
one of the board of school directors, and 
takes a deep interest in the cause of educa- 
tion. He is a member, also, of Frank Dag- 
gett Post, No. 35, G. A. E. 



.-^> 



'ICHARD FOURRE, a leading agricult- 
l&{\, urist of Darwin township, having his 
residence on section 10, is a native of Canada 
West, born February 8, 1839, and is a son of 




George and Eliza (Wyman) Fourre. His 
father was born in England, although the 
paternal grandfather of our subject was a 
native of France, and was Pichai-d Fourre 
by name. The mother of our subject was 
born in Oswego, N. Y., and was the daugh- 
ter of Gardner Wyman, a native of Scotland. 

The gentleman whose name heads this 
sketch remained in his Canadian home until 
1857, when he came to the United States, 
and settled in Kane county, 111., where he 
made his home for some five years, llemov- 
ing to Grant county. Wis., at the end of that 
time, he made that his home until 18G5, when 
he came to Meeker county, and made a set- 
tlement in Da"win townshi|), on the property 
where he now lives. AVhile a resident of 
Grant county, April 18, 186:3, he was united 
in marriage with Mrs. Morgan (Condon) Gro- 
gen. While still a citizen of the " Badger 
State,"' Mr. Fourre enlisted in Company F, 
Seventh Wisconsin Infantry, on the 27th of 
February, 186i, and was assigned for duty 
to the Army of the Potomac, and partici- 
pated with the regiment in the sanguinary 
contest known as the battle of the Wilder- 
ness, where he received some slight injuries 
from a spent shot. In the battle of Spot- 
sylvania, which followed some time after, he 
had the misfortune to have his thumb blown 
oif, and was transferred to the Twenty-Fourth 
Kegiment, Veteran Reserve Corps, stationed 
at Washington, D. C, where he remained on 
duty until the close of the war. He was one 
of the guawls over Mrs. Surratt, just before 
her hanging, and over the infamous Dr. 
Mudd. He received his discharge July 25, 
1865, and returned to his home. 

Mr. FouiTe is a republican in his political 
faith. His wife is a consistent member of 
the Catholic Church. 

Mrs. Fourre was born January 6, 1838, in 
County Limerick, Ireland. She came to 
Grant county* Wis., with her ])arcnts, David 
and Mary (Galway) Condon, in the spring of 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



481 



1847. The parents were both born in County 
Limerick, Ireland. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fourre are the parents of 
the following children — Mary F., born De- 
cenaber 15, 1858; George, born January 15, 
1864- ; James, born April 28, 1866; liichard, 
born March 16, 1868 ; Laura C, born May 25, 
1870; John A., born October 8, 1872; Char- 
ley A., born November 10, 1874; Frederick 
E., born December 20, 1870 ; and Lucy, born 
December 22, 1878. 



-^. 



PETER R. PETERSON is a prosperous 
and respected farmer who resides on 
section 23, in the township of Danielson, in 
which he was one of the very earliest set- 
tlers. He comes of the same nationality 
which by their industry and frugality have 
done so much toward tlie development of 
Minnesota's resources. He was born in Nor- 
way on the 10th of October, 1838, and is a 
son of Rolof and Rachel Peterson. The 
family came to the United States in 1857 
and located in Rock county, Wis., where the 
father's death occurred, and where the 
mother still resides. 

Shortly after his arrival in the United 
States, in 1857, Peter R. Peterson, our sub- 
ject, began life for himself, by working for 
farmers in Wisconsin, and remained there 
until June, 1864. At that time he came to 
Meeker county, Minn., and went to work for 
Ever Jackson, a farmer in Litchfield town- 
ship. In the spring of 1865 he removed to a 
homestead which he had taken on section 2, 
in Danielson township, thus becoming one of 
the first settlers of that township, the only 
settler at that time within its limits being 
Nels Danielson. Mr. Peterson remained 
upon his farm until 1872, when he sold out 
and removed to a farm uliich he had pur- 
chased in Iowa. In 1874 lie ^old tiie Iowa 
farm and returned to Danielson township. 



where he bought the farm on section 23, 
upon which he still resides. lie has been 
ver\' successful in his farming operations and 
now owns 104 acres of land, sixty-four of 
which is in Danielson, and the balance in 
Cosmos township, besides which, in 1882 he- 
gave his son, Elof, eighty acres on section 
23, Danielson township. He was a poor man 
when he came to America, and his present 
comfortable circumstances are entirely due ta 
his own efforts and industry. 

While in Wisconsin Mr. Peterson was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary Anderson, and they were 
the parents of five children — Elof, born Sep- 
tember 19, 1862; Ralph, born November 11^ 
1864; Anna, born October 1, 1866; John,, 
born June 20, 1869; and Eliza, born November 
20, 1871, died August 13, 1873. The daugh- 
ter Anna, married Hans Olson, of Greenleaf 
township. The sons, Ralph and John, are in 
Dakota. Mr. Peterson's first wife died on 
the 25th of May, 1880, and on the 16th of 
October, 1885, he was married to Carrie 
Olson, the widow of Christian Jacobson. By 
her former marriage she had four children,. 
as follows — Jacob Jacobson, Ole Jacobson, 
John Jacobson and Christina Jacobson. 

Mr. Peterson has taken an active interest 
in the public matters affecting his township, 
and has held various offices of a local nature, 
including the following: Township super- 
visor, two years; school director, two or 
three years, and road overseer, two years. In 
political matters he affiliates with the repub- 
lican party. 



kR. E. B. WEEKS, dentist, residing iu 
the village of Litchfield, is a native 
of Ilartland Waukesha county. Wis., born 
September 30, 1857, and is the son of Thomas 
and Mary E. (Bissell) Weeks. His father 
was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
the subject of this sketch was reared upon a 



482 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



farm until he was about twenty years of 
age. His early educational advantages were 
somewhat limited, hut lie attended the dis- 
trict school wiien the opportunity occurred, 
and being of a studious nature studied by 
himself whenever he had any leisure from 
the duties of the farm, thus, by energy and 
perseverance, laying a good foundation of 
knowledge. Sliortly before attaining his 
majority our subject went to Dakota, where 
he spent one year, and, returning, entered a 
dental office in "Wliitewater, Wis., where he 
remained until lie had l)ecome proficient in 
the theory ami ])ractice of that profession. 
In 1SS3 he came to Litchfield and opened 
his present office, over Eevell Bros.' drug 
store, and is now enjoying the fruits of an 
extensive practice, having gained the reputa- 
tion in this community of being a man of 
sterling worth and excellent ability. 

The Doctor is a member of the Presbyte- 
rian Ciiurch and a Christian gentleman. He 
takes great interest in the good of the vil- 
lage and enjoys the esteem of all who know 
him. 



-«« 



s\ ELS WAYLANDER, one of the pio- 



ii iu ueers of Acton townshij), is a native 
of Sweden, and came to this country in 
1852, with his wife and child, he having mar- 
ried Miss Elsa Swan. The first winter after 
coming here he spent in Ivnoxville, 111., 
and the following summer in Moline, but 
late that year he emigrated to St. Paul, 
Minn., and after numerous difficulties got his 
little family to Chisago county, this State, 
Avhere he took up a claim. This he sold 
shortly after, and owned and occupied various 
))ieces of real estate thei-e, until the spi-ing 
of 1837, when he came to Meeker county 
and settled on section 4, Acton township. 
He afterward took up a homestead on the 
same section, and later, ])urcliased adjoining 



land until he had accumulated a fine prop- 
erty. Foi' many years he was busily 
engaged in oj)erating this farm, but has now 
retired from the active cares of life. He 
has given each of his sons a farm, and his 
daughter a ti'act of timber land. In 1862, 
with the other settlers here, he passed 
through the terrible vicissitudes of the 
Indian troubles. On tlie night of tiie Acton 
murder, he was with the party who set out 
from Swede Grove, as detailed elsewhere. 
He took a prominent part in the movements 
of that autumn, and relates many hair- 
breadth escapes and thrilling stories of those 
eventful days. On Sunday afternoon, 
August 17, 18^2, six Indians stopped at his 
cabin and talked with him, and it is the sup- 
position that they were the red fiends who 
had murdered Jones, Baker, etc., in that 
town, but a few houi-s previous. 

Mr. and Mrs. Waylander are the parents 
of five children, as follows : Nels, born 
September 12, 1851, married and living in 
Acton; Betsy, born in May, 1S51, is dead; 
Ellen, wife of George Oakeson. born April 
20, 1856, living in Grove City; Lewis, born 
September 12, 1860, died September 18, 
1878; and Albert, born Fei)ruary 20, 1863, 
married and living in Paj'nesville, Minn. 
Mr. Waylander is one of the representative 
citizens of the county, and merits and receives 
the I'espect and esteem of the entire commu- 
nity, for his industry, thrift, and social 
uprightness and sterling integrity. 



"• V* •( 



.-^^ 



ferJ^TjriLLIAM p. CHANEY. Among the 



\./a:/ thriving farmers of CoUinwood 
township, there is none more ]irominent 
than the subject of this biograj)iiy. He was 
born in Russell county, Ya , January 15, 
183t!, and is the son of John and Elizabeth 
(Biair) (;haney. His ])arents were natives 
of Is'orth Carolina, and his maternal gieat- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



483 



grandfather was born in Germany, and set- 
tled in Pennsylvania at an earl}'^ da}'. The 
latter married and moved to North Carolina, 
where he died at the age of 101 years, in 
186i. His wife was a native of Scotland, 
and a daughter of General "Wilson, of Revolu- 
tionary' celebrity. 

The subject of this memoir lived with his 
mother until attaining the age of twenty-one 
years, and then went to Pike county, Ky., 
where he was married, April 7, 1858, to Miss 
Malinda Sword, the daughter of John and 
Rebecca Sword. Two years later he moved 
back to Russell county, Ya., where he farmed 
about four yeare. While there he enlisted in 
a battalion of Virginia cavalry, and served 
three years in the Confederate Army. He 
was taken prisoner, and after lingering in 
confinement for a year, enlisted in the 
Union Army, and served there, on the fron- 
tier, thirteen months. After his discharge be 
returned to Kentucky. Two years later he 
moved to Piatt county. Mo., where he made 
his home until April, 1887, when he came to 
Meeker county. He has a fine farm of 120 
acres of good land. Mr. Chaney is the 
parent of ten children. 



-'^m- 



JETER OLSON, an intelligent, promi- 
nent and successful former and stock- 
raiser of Litchfield township, was born in 
Sweden, April 7, 1845, and is a son of Ole 
and Carrie Peterson. In 1870 he was mar- 
ried to Betsy Larson, daughter of Louis 
Paulson. No children have been born to 
them, but they have adopted and are rearing 
a boy named John Ockescvn, who was born 
in Sweden May 7, 1876. Mr. Olson and wife 
came to America in 1872, and lived near St. 
Paul until 1875, when they came to Meeker 
county and settled, pursuing the business of 
farming. Mr. Olson has met with some se- 
vere reverses since since coming to Meeker 



count\', by way of grasshoppers and hail- 
stones, which destroyed a good portion of 
his crops, but he still ranks as a successful 
and enterprising farmer. 



-^- 



lE^URNS BROTHERS, two of Meeker 
JMy county's honest, sober, industrious and 
prosperous stock-raisers, farmers and business 
men, are proprietors of the Union Stock 
Farm, on Tyrone prairie, in Manannah town- 
ship. They are natives of Lowell, Mass., 
where Edward Frank, the elder, was born 
December 5, 1859, and where Hugh was born 
November 25, ISCl. 

Their father, Frank Burns, was born at the 
same place, August 13, 1838, just after the 
death of his father, and his mother jiassed to 
the other world two weeks after his birth. 
Frank Burns learned the miller's trade, and 
in 1858 was married to Mary McMahon, a 
daughter of Peter and Ann McMahon. 
When the foundation of the government was 
threatened, and the stars and stripes were 
fired upon by Southern traitors, Frank Burns 
enlisted and went into the service, and the 
fact that he-nobl}' did his duty, and answered 
to every call where danger was involved, is 
attested by the sad fact that he now fills an 
honored soldier's grave. The following will 
explain itself: 

Commonwealth op Massachusetts, Adjutant- ) 
Genekal's Office, Boston, June 4, 1888. ) 
The name of Frank Burns, of Lowell, aged 24, occu- 
pation mill operator, is borne on the muster-out roll of 
Company B, Fortieth Regiment Massachusetts Volun- 
teer Infantry ; enlisted August 13, 1863 ; mustered in 
August 23, 1863, for three years; killed in battle June 
3, 1864. Samuel Dai.ton, 

Adjutant-General . 

Frank Burns was with Grant's advance on 
Ri«hmond, and, as the historian has already 
recorded, " a series of terrible conflicts ensued, 
in which blood flowed like water." He was 
at the AVilderness May 5th to 7th ; at Spot- 



484 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



SN'lvania C. H. from the 8th to the 12th ; and 
at Cold Harbor, a few miles from Ilichmond, 
June 3, 1864. At daybreak on that date a 
general assault was made, ami, twenty min- 
utes after the first shot was fired, ten thou- 
sand Union men were stretched writhing on 
the sod or still and calm in death. Here 
Frank Burns met his death. He fills an hon- 
ored soldier's grave — his life given as a sacri- 
fice upon the altar of his country and his 
flag. 

Upon the death of the father, the children 
and bereaved widow lived with the widow's 
father and mother, Peter and Ann Mc- 
Mahon, the grandfather, becoming guardian 
■of Edward and Hugh. They lived happily 
together, and the grandfather invested the 
money, obtained for the boys from the gov- 
ernment, in railroad land, as he received 
about enough to meet the payments. On the 
'3d of October, 1866, they came to Meeker 
county, Minn., and settled in Manannah 
township, where the two boys, with their 
mother and two sisters, Mary Ann and 
Lizzie, still live happily together. The 
grandmother died in May, 1875 ; the grand- 
father March 11, 1883. They were highly 
respected by all. The grandfather was a 
■" Father Mathew Temperance man." They 
were buried at Forest City, where there have 
since been interred the remains of Edward 
and Hugh's half-sister, Ellen Omelia A. Vin- 
tus, a young lady, sixteen years old, who 
died Ma}' 2, 1888. Her death was sincerely 
regretted by a wide circle of friends, and her 
funeral, which was presided over by Father 
McDevitt, was very largely attended. 

In 1875 Edward F. Burns started West, 
and entered a homestead near DeGraff. He 
was then but seventeen years of age, so he 
used his father's homestead right. He farmed 
it for five years under discouraging circum- 
stances, meeting with reverses in the loss of 
crops, which would have disheartened the 
hardiest of men. The fourth year his labors 



were better repaid, as he cleared about $500, 
but losing the following crop he finally left 
Swift county, and afterward sold his farm. 

On the 24th of February, 1884, he took a 
contract to ship cattle to Miles City, Mont., 
and during the following spring shipped 300 
head, and was very successful in this enter- 
prise. In March, 1885, he purchased the 
stallion French Emperor II., and Avas also 
successful in this venture. With him he se- 
cured the second premium at the county fair 
and his colts rated high. Mr. Burns tintiUy 
sold the animal April 1, 1886. On the 15th 
of September, 1886, E. F. Burns bought the 
first lot that was sold in Eden Valley, erected 
a fine building, and October ItUh, established 
a meat market ami farm produce exchange, 
and supplied the railroad contractors with 
provisions. He also bought wheat and dealt 
in wood. AVhen the boom began to " weak- 
en," in Febi'uary, 1887, he soUl out. 

The brothers are independent in politics, 
and are members of the Catholic Church. In 
1885 Edward F. was elected treasurer of his 
school district, which ofiice he filled for three 
years, and in the spring of 1886 he was 
elected justice of the peace. He has also 
taken an active interest in temperance raat- 
tere, and in speaking of their ])rosperity, they 
say they attribute the success of their firm to 
"religion, temperance and diversified farm- 



-^> 



^^WAN CARLSON. The subject of this 
'^^ biography is an enterprising and thor- 
ough farmer and stock-raiser on section 32, 
Harvey township. He was born in Sweden, 
May 4, 1848, and six years later came to 
the United States with his parents, landing 
in the cit}' of New York, but after a week's 
stay came to Minnesota and located at 
Swede Lake, Chisago county. He made 
that place his home until 1871, when he 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



485 



came to Meeker county and settled on the 
place where he now lives. 

He was united in marriage May 16, 1872, 
with Miss Ellen Nilson, and by this union 
there have been born seven children as fol- 
lows — Edward, born February 5, 1873; 
Eugene, born July 12, 1874 ; William, born 
February 4, 1877; Aivina, born February 9, 
1879 ; Frank, born August 15, 1880 ; Alfred, 
born November 24,|1882 ; and Victoria, born 
February 11, 1885. Mrs. Carlson's father 
died in Sweden, his native country, in Octo- 
ber, 1878, but her mother is still living in 
the old country. Mr. Carlson's parents 
make their home in Chisago county, where 
his father carries on the carpenter's trade 
in connection with his farming o]ierations. 

In his political views our subject is an 
adherent to the princii)les of the republican 
pai'ty, and has held several local offices. He 
and his wife are zealous members of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church, and are exem- 
plary Christian people. Mr. Carlson, being 
imbued with the natural thrift and frugality 
of the race from which he sprang, has accum- 
ulated a fine property consisting of 280 acres 
of excellent arable land, ujion which he has 
made some excellent improvements. 



-*-- 



T|jaOXLEY R. WOOD, a prominent citi- 
11^^ zen of Darwin township, has his resi- 
dence on section 7, where he carries on 
farming and stock-raising. He is a native 
of the city of Philadelphia, Pa., born March 
23, 1828, where he was reared. Remaining 
there until 1856, our subject then removed 
to Luzerne county, in the same State, and 
made his home there, among the picturesque 
scenery of the Blue Ridge, for about three 
years. About 1859 he came to Minnesota, 
and settled at Minneapolis, where he made 
his home for some two years, and then re- 
moved to Wright county, and there lived for 



about eight years. At the end of that time 
he again made a new settlement, this time 
in the vicinty of Montevideo, Chippewa 
county, this State, but a few years later 
returned to Minneapolis, and in that city 
remained some thirteen years. While a resi- 
dent of Wright county, Mr. Wood was a 
participant in many of the exciting scenes of 
the Indian massacre of 18(52. He was livinar 
on Moore's Praii-ie at the time, but did not 
feel alarmed until he heard of the murder of 
the Dustin family, and then went to Minne- 
apolis, and on his way there came across the 
corpses of the victims of the savages, and 
assisted in their burial. He came back to 
his place a few days later, and gathered up 
his stock, which he drove to a place of safety. 

The war for the defense of the Union had 
been progressing some time, and men had 
become quite scarce in the Northern States, 
and in response to the call from the President 
for more troops, in 1864, our subject enlisted 
in Company I, Sixth New York Heavy Artil- 
lery, and served with that regiment uniler 
General Sheridan. He was assigned to the 
quartermaster's department, and there served 
until the close of the war, and was mustered 
out and discharged in 18G5, and returned to 
Wright count\% Minn. 

Mr. Wood was united in marriage August 
18, 1850, with Miss Elizabeth J. Fisk. By 
this union there have been seven children, 
four boys and three girls, all of whom are 
dead except one — Isaac L., born June 1, 1860. 

In 1884 Mr. Wood came to Meeker county, 
and took up his residence in Darwin town- 
ship. 



WILLIAM MILLS CAMPBELL, the 
present L'nited States marshal for 
the district of Minnesota, is one of Meeker 
county's most prominent citizens, and has 
been identified with its interests from pio- 



486 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



neer days. lie was born in Philadelphia, 
Pa., A|)ril 11, 1839, and is the son of Edward 
and Eliza (Mills) Campbell. The father was 
a native of the cit}' of Londonderry', Ireland, 
born in February, 1808. lie came to the 
United States in 183-1, and in Philadelphia 
learned and followed phunbing and gas 
fitting. In 1837 he married, moved to 
Hutland, Kane county, 111., in 1842, and 
shortly after purchased a farm near Elgin, 
where now stands the village of Gilbert. 
The mother of our subject was born in County 
Tyrone, Ireland, and died in 1818, leaving 
five children, namely — William M., Edward 
Augustus, Louisa, now Mrs. John Fitzgerald, 
Fannie, Mrs. Michael J. Flynn. and Eliza M., 
Mrs. C. F. McDonald, of St. Cloud. 

William grew to manhood upon the farm 
and received his education in the district 
schools of the day and county, which he at- 
tended during the winter sessions. In 1858, 
hearing excellent accounts from Minnesota, 
from friends hei-e, who had come in 1850, on 
the first of May. he started alone for Meeker 
county, walking the entire distance from St. 
Anthony to Forest City, arriving there the 
same month. He was for some two years 
engaged in working on the river and in saw 
mills. 

In 1860, his father, induced by the de- 
scriptions of the son, sold out and came to 
Meeker county, and William helped his father 
get settled, and took up a claim himself, the 
southwest quarter of section 26, Forest City 
township. This he lost, however, by enlist- 
ing in the service. At the time of the In- 
dian outbreak, in 1862, Mr. Campbell was 
temporary in Iowa, but hurried back, and as- 
sisted in organizing a force of young men, 
stacked and took care of all the grain they 
could find cut and helped some thresh. He 
then enlisted in Comj)any A, First Jlinnesota 
Mounted Rangers, and accompanied Sibley 
in the campaign to the Missouri in 1863, par- 
ticipating in all its dangers, and in all its 



battles. Returning, he re-enlisted in Com- 
pany D, Second Minnesota Cavalry, and was 
a part of theex])edition under General Sully, 
and served two years. He was mustered 
out December 5, 1865, and returned home. 

The following year Mr. Camjibell entered 
into mercantile life in company with his 
brother Edward; not liking that line, quit it 
and engaged in farming, opening up a large 
farm in company with Michael J. and Daniel 
Flynn, his brothers-in-law. In 1868 he pur- 
chased a place on section 34, in Harvey, to 
which he removed the following year. 

In 1809 our subject was elected sheriff of 
the county on the democratic tidket, over- 
coming a republican majority of about 500. 
He was re-elected to the same office in 1871, 
and then removed to Litchfield. At the con- 
clusion of his second term he commenced the 
sale of agricultural implements, a business 
he followed until 1877, when he sold out, and 
in company with AV. II Jones, became general 
northwestern agent of the Gammon & Deering 
harvester machinery. In the'fall of 1877 
Mr. Campbell was elected to the State Legis- 
lature, to which he was re-elected the next 
year. In 1880 he was elected to the State 
Senate, Garfield carrying the county at the 
same time by a majoritv larger than the 
whole democi'atic vote. Two years later he 
was defeated for re-election by fifteen votes. 
His record in the House and Senate is highly 
creditable, and he then assumed the position 
of a leader in the democratic party in this 
State, from which he has not receded. He 
was a delegate to the national democratic 
convention at Chicago, in 1884, and received 
his appointment of United States marshal in 
February, 1880, and then moved to St. Paul. 

June 11, 1866, Mr. Campbell was married 
to ]\riss Lizzie A. Flynn, and the}' are the 
parents of ten children — John A., Millie, 
Edward Bennett (deceased), Anna, Grace, 
Edward, James, William Lewis, Michael B., 
and Mary. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



489 



JAMES NELSON is a prominent and 
wealthy fanner and stock-raiser, who 
resides on section 23, Union Grove town- 
ship. To avoid rejietition we must refer the 
reader to the chapters devoted to the Indian 
trouble, and also to other sketches for many 
of the most interesting features in the his- 
tory of Mr. Nelson. He took a very active 
and prominent part in those trying days. 

Mr. Nelson was born in Ireland, on the 
18th of June, 1837, and was a son of Robert 
and Ann Nelson. In July, 1840, he came to 
America with his parents. His father and 
mother settled near Montreal, in Canada 
East, where they engaged in farming, and 
remained until the time of their deaths. In 
August, 1856, James came to Meeker county, 
Minn., and preempted 160 acres on section 
23, in what is now Union Grove township. 
This place has since been his home, with the 
exception of a short time during 1862-3, 
when they were driven away by the Indians. 
He then enlisted in the Second Minnesota 
Infantr}^ and went South, remaining there 
until the close of the war, when he again 
settled upon the farm, and lias since remained 
there. He has one of the most valuable 
farms in the township, and it is well im- 
proved, with substantial farm buildings. 

Mr. Nelson was married on the 7th of 
April, 1857, to Miss Elizabeth Caswell, which 
is said to have been the first marriage within 
the limits of Meeker county. Mrs. Nelson 
was a daughter of Carlos and Anna Caswell, 
and was born in Canada on the 16th of 
August, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have 
been the parents of six children, as follo-ws — ■ 
William, born November 24, 1858 ; Frank, 
born October 27, 1860; Anna, born May 25, 
1863; James, born July 9, 1870 ; Orriu, born 
July 9, 1872 ; and Albert, born October 21, 
1875. Anna married William Phillips, and 
now lives in Union Grove township ; they 
have three children — Mana, Carl and Flor- 
ence. William married Sarah Newcomb, 



and lives in Dakota; they have one child, 
Iva. Frank married Ella Hinds, and lives 
in Dakota. 

In political matters Mr. Nelson is a repub- 
lican. He has taken an active interest in 
public matters, and is one of the leading citi- 
zens of the countj^ He has taken a promi- 
nent part in township afPairs and held vari- 
ous local offices. 



^^OREN MORTON. The subject of this 
"^^^ biography is one of the most promi- 
nent citizens ef Danielson township, being a 
resident of section 10, in that subdivision of 
Meeker county. Mr. Morton is a native of 
Denmark, born on the 29th of November, 
1836, and is a son of Morten Johnson and 
Johanna Skovenborg. Soren remained in 
the land of his birth until 1863, when he 
came to the United States and first located 
in Kipon, Wis., where he remained five or 
six months, having charge of a farm. He 
then went to St. Clare county. 111., where he 
worked on a farm until March, 1864, when 
he returned to Eipon, and again took charge 
of the farm which he had previously had 
control of. In the fall of 1864 he came to 
Meeker county, Minn., and took a homestead 
on section 10, in Danielson toAvnship, where 
he now lives. After taking his claim he 
worked for different farmei-s for a time, then 
went to St. Paul, and remained through the 
winter, working in a wood-yard. The fol- 
lowing spring he returned to his claim, set 
out some trees and made some other im- 
provements and then returned to St. Paul. 
A short time later, in July, 1865, he moved 
his family to his claim, and has lived there 
ever since. He now has a splendid farm and 
splendid improvements. He devotes consid- 
erable attention to raising stock, together 
with general farming, and is recognized as 
one of the most intelligent and prominent 



490 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



farmers in the western part of the county. 
He is a democrat in political matters and 
takes an active interest in the affairs of his 
townshi]), having held a number of the most 
important local offices, including those of 
chairman of the supervisors, for several years 
while Acton and Uanielson formed one town- 
ship, school clerk for eight years, and others. 
Mr. Morton married Miss Louisa Winter- 
lig, who was born May 22, 1845, and is a 
daughter of Peter C. and Christine Wintei'- 
lig. Mr. and Mrs. Morton have hail six 
children, as follows — Sarah H., born July 3, 
1865 : Henry "W., born December 28, 1867; 
Willie T., born June 8, 1869 ; Victor, born 
July 12, 1874; Agnes Myrtle, born February 
4, 1877; and Alice, born July 3, 1884. The 
family are members of the Methodist Church, 
in which Mr. Morton is one of the most active 
workei"s, having held various offices in that 
organization, including those of trustee and 
steward, for several }'ears. 



— «-; 



^^.-^ 



G. JOHNSON. The subject of this 
biography, a farmer residing on sec- 
tion 22, Greenleaf township, was born in 
Sweden on the 10th of October, 1857. He 
left his native land with his father s family 
in 1867, and came to Meeker county, Minn. 
His father was a farmer most of his life, but 
has now retired from active business and 
lives in the village of Litchfield. The sub- 
ject of this sketch now has three brothers 
and four sisters living, one brother having 
died. 

C. G. Johnson learned the carpenter's trade 
in 1878, and followed that vocation for sev- 
eral years. In 1881 he went to Missouri and 
remained there about eighteen months, re- 
turning then to Minnesota. In 1 884 he pur- 
chased the farm where he now lives, on section 
22, Greenleaf township, and has since made 
that his home. He has a valuable farm of 



160 acres, seventy-eight of which is under 
plow and fifty to meadow, while he has a few 
acres of timber. He has substantial improve- 
ments, and his farm is among the most valu- 
able in his portion of the township. He 
devotes his time to general farming and to 
stock-raising, and has a good lierd of cattle 
on the ])lace. 



•■*"^^"*- 



JCHAEL J. ROACH. Among the 
farmers and cattle raisers of the 
north part of the county, is Mr. Roach of 
Forest Prairie, who has his home upon sec- 
tion 8 of that township. He was born in 
Rockbridge county, Va., December 23, 1820, 
and is the son of John antl Elizabeth (Peto- 
lomey) Roach, natives of Maryland and Vir- 
ginia, respectively. When our subject was 
but a child his parents removed to Henry 
county, Ind., and finally settled in Cass 
county, that State, where they died. The 
early education of the subject of this sketch 
was acquired in his native count}', and after- 
wards in the schools of Indiana, which at 
that earl}^ day were few and far between. 
He was one of a family of thirteen children, 
the names of the others being — Lucilla, 
William, James N., Mary Ellen, John C, 
Betsy J., Margret A., Joseph, Andrew J., 
George, Carson, Nancy D., and one that 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Roach was reared to maidiood in Cass 
county, Ind., and was there married, Decem- 
ber 28, 1843, to Miss Sarah J. Wynn, a native 
of Warren county, the same State, born No- 
vember 4, 1832. She is the daughter of 
James and PoUie (Harden) Wynn, who were 
born in Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. 
By this union there have been born a family 
of thirteen children — William, Michael, 
Sarah Jane, Margaret A., Deniza, Elizabetii, 
Ellen Dosh, Cinda, James, John and Mary. 
The latter died in infancy ; the rest are all 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



491 



living and married except Dosh and Ellen, 
who reside at home. 

Mr. Eoach came to Meeker county in 1866, 
reaching Forest City, on the 9th of May, 
and shortly after came to his present place 
and took up his homestead. At that time 
the woods were full of game and he acquired 
the reputation of being the best and most 
successful hunter in this part of the country. 
He made considerable money by this means, 
but has always given considerable attention 
to farming and stock-raising, preferring the 
sure gains of husbandry to any more allur- 
ing speculation or business. He was the 
third settler in the township, one of the okl 
pioneers ; is a member of the Church of 
God, and usually votes the re])ublican ticket. 



JESSE V. BRANHAM, Jr., a pioneer, who 
took a most active and j^rominent part 
in the trying times of the Indian massacre, 
is one of the best-known and most conspic- 
ous figures in Meeker county's history. He 
is a native of Jennings county, Ind., born 
July 8, 1834:, and is the son of Jesse V. and 
Mary (Butler) Branham, a sketch of whom 
will be found elsewhere in this Album. In 
1847 his parents removed to Franklin, John- 
son county, Ind , where our subject remained 
under the parental roof until nineteen years 
of age, when he opened a dry -goods and 
gi'ocery store. In 1855 he was united in 
mariage with Miss Mary L. Stark. 

Early in tlie summer, of 1857, Jesse V., 
Jr., joined a party of pioneers, consisting of 
his father, Jesse V. Branham, Sr., William 
Branham, Levi Eeed, Hugh McCannon, and 
others, and came to Meeker county, Minn., 
our subject Locating on section 35, of Litch- 
field — then jS^ess — township, in June of that 
3'ear. He at once began improvements, and 
his family joined him in August. He there 
remained, earnestly devoting his time and 



labor to developing a farm, living in content- 
ment and prosperity, notwithstanding the 
many disadvantages usual to pioneer life, 
until the Indian outbreak of 1862 began. 

On Sunday, August 17, 1862, while Jesse 
V. Branham, Jr., was crossing a field with a 
neighbor, the report of the Jones and Baker 
murders were brought to him. After a 
hasty consideration of the matter, he con- 
cluded to get all the people of the neighbor- 
hood together at the house of George C. 
"Whitcomb (who was absent), on account of 
the location, partly because of a good well 
in the cellar, should the Indians make an 
attack, and partly to protect Whitcomb's 
family. Sunday night, after the neighbor- 
hood had been notified and brought to one 
point, our subject, in company with his 
brother William, mounted his horse and 
started for Acton, to learn as to the truth of 
the reports. When within about three 
miles from their destination, they met a 
part}'^ from the scene of the massacre, who 
had with them a child, which was the only 
surviving member of either the Jones or 
Baker households. The Branhams then 
learned that all reports were true, and imme- 
diately retui'ned to AVhitcomb's house. 
Early Monday morning the.y all started for 
Forest City, where they remained inactive 
for a daj' or so, but Tuesday afternoon 
word was received that the outbreak was 
general and would extend all along the bor- 
der. That evening they held a council, and 
decided to send all women and children to 
Clearwater, and J. Y . Branham, Jr., was ap- 
pointed to take charge of the train. Wednes- 
day morning the train started, being made 
up of teams of every description, and being 
half a mile in length. Jesse V., Jr., piloted 
thefn about half way through the "Big 
AYoods," when he bade his famil}' good-bye 
and returned to Kingston. There he talked 
with a number of the leading citizens, gave 
them hie idea of the stockade, and the fol- 



492 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



lowing morning, with iiis team, he hauled 
the first log for tiie Kingston fortifications. 
Returning to Forest City, he found George 
C. Whitcoml) witli an order from Governor 
Ramsey to form a comi)any of State militia, 
to defend the town. Our subject joined the 
ranks, and, as soon as possible, he, with 
others of the command, were mounted and 
started west to bury the dead and aid the 
wounded. The}' rode through the western 
part of Meelcer county and all over Kandi- 
j^ohi county. 

After this Jesse Y., Jr., remained with 
the comjmny until the night of Se])tember2, 
when, on coming into the stockade after a 
brush with the Indians, they learned that 
Captain Strout would be in camp at Acton that 
night. The whole company knew that the 
countr}^ was filled with hostile Indians, and 
knew that unless Strout was warned, his 
whole command would probal)]y be mur- 
dered. Captain Wliitcomb called for volun- 
teers to go upon the extremely dangerous 
mission of warning Strout, and Jesse V. 
Branham, Ji-., was the first to offer his serv- 
ices, Thomas Holmes and A. P. Sperry soon 
joining him, and at sundown they started for 
Acton, with Jesse in command of the trio. 
Reaching their destination and fulfilling 
their mission in the night, they slept for a 
time,' and in the morning the company 
started for Forest City. The Indians soon 
made an attack on them, and in the ene-aee- 
ment, Jesse Branham, Jr., was shot through 
the lungs, the bullet coming out of his back, 
and seventeen others of Strout's company 
were wounded. Tiiey were taken to Hutch- 
inson that night, and ujion arriving tliere, 
Branham got u)> and walked from the 
wagon to his room, in the second story of the 
hotel. AVhen the doctor examined him, he 
said to those in attendance: "I can do 
nothing for this man; make him as comfort- 
able as you can ; he will be dead in three 
hours." The following morning, September 



4th, was the day of the attack on Hutchinson, 
and while our subject was lying on his cot, 
tlien unable to move, there came a shower of 
bullets on and through the house. Later he 
was carried to the stockade with the other 
wounded, and tliere cared for. Four weeks 
later he was able to go to ]\[inneapolis to 
his family. Tliree weeks later the family 
went south to Louisville, K\'., and I'emained 
tliere until the spring of 1863, wlien they 
returned to Minneapolis, and the following 
fall, again settled in Meeker count}'. Jesse 
V. Branham, Jr., rented the mill at Green- 
leaf, and operated it during the winter of 
1863-4, and the following spring went to 
Forest City and rented a farm for tlie season. 
In the fall of 1864, the county commissioners 
ap]5ointed him county auditor to fill a 
vacancy, and he M'as afterward elected and 
re-elected, serving until the spring of 1871. 
During this time the county seat had been 
removed to Litchfield, and after the expira- 
tion of his term of office, our subject en- 
gaged in the mercantile trade at that place. 
Smce that time he has been engaged either 
in the mercantile trade, real estate or farm- 
ing. 

In eai'ly days Jesse Y. Branham, Jr., was 
one of the most active and public-spirited 
men in the county. When the town of Xess 
was organized, he was elected first town 
clerk ; he also held the office of county com- 
missioner, besides that of county auditor, 
and various local offices. He was one of the 
original town site proprietors of Litchfield ; 
drew the bill changing the county seat from 
Forest City ; gave Litchfield its name, and 
in many other ways connected his name 
indissolubly with the early history of the 
county. He drew the plan of the park in 
Litchfiekl, and to him, more than any other 
one man, is due the credit of planting trees 
and oettine: it into the'beautiful condition of 
to-day. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Y. Branham, Jr., are 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



493 



tlie parents of five cliildren, as follows — 
Iliram S., a member of the Litchfield bank- 
ing firm of Stevens & Co.; Alice, now Mrs. 
Robert Burns; Delaney E., I-ula and 
Thomas. 

fNORGREN & CO., dealers in general 
merchandise in the village of Dassel, 
came to the village in thespring of 1S75, and 
established their present business, and are, 
therefore, the oldest house in town having a 
continuous existence. They carry a large 
and well-assoi'ted stock, and are doing an 
extensive and lucrative trade. The stoi'e 
which they occupy was built b}' Louis Rud- 
berg, and is a handsome brick edifice, well 
lighted and ventilated, and presents a neat 
appearance from the street. 

John Norgren, the senior member of the 
firm, is a native of Sweden, and immigrated 
to America in 1866, landing in Carver county, 
Minn., on the 22d of July, with his family, 
which then consisted of his wife and five 
children. He soon afterward bought a farm 
of eighty acres in Hancock township, about 
nine miles from Carver, and moved liis fam- 
ily to it. They remained there until 1873, 
during which time the farm was increased to 
160 acres. In 1873 they came to Meeker 
county, and the father ])urcliased a half inter- 
est in the saw- and flouring-mill at East 
Kingston. He was there engaged in the 
milling business for two years and a half, 
when he sold his interest to his partner, and 
came to Dassel, where he has since lived. 
He then, in company with J. O. Berlin, 
opened a general merchandise store under 
the firm name of J. Norgren & Co. The 
partner, Mr. Berlin, is also his son-in-law, 
and had the misfortune to lose bis ej'esight 
some nine years ago. Mr. Norgren has 
turned the active management of the mer- 
cantile business over to his sons, John and 



Lewis. Mr. Norgren is a hale and hearty 
man of about sixt^y years of age, and still 
retains his vigor. He has large property 
interests here in the way of faims and vil- 
lage real estate, and has been intimately as- 
sociated with the growth and development 
of the eastern part of Meeker county. He 
is the present town treasurer, and has taken 
an active interest in official and educational 
matters. 

John and Lewis Norgren, who have charge 
of the business, are both capable business 
men, and their establishment commands as 
heavy a trade as any in the village. John 
has been a member of the village council 
for four years, while both take a prominent 
part in all matters pertaining to the welfare 
of their localitv. 



— — ^-•; 



^.^^ 



ON. A. C. SMITH, for many years 
one of the most prominent figures in 
the history of the county, and one of the 
leading attorneys, was a native of Vermont, 
born in 1814. He was educated in the State 
of his nativity, and thei'e studied law, and 
was admitted to the bar at Washington, D. 
C, at a session of the Supreme Court of the 
United States. In 1839 he removed to 
Mount Clemens, Macomb county, Mich., 
where he entered upon the practice of his 
profession. A short time after he entered 
upon a career of journalism, editing and 
publishing the Macoinh Oazette, and the 
Landvuvrhs, the latter a Masonic periodical, 
and continued at this for some five years. 
He then occupied the judicial bench for 
three years, and served one term in the 
Michigan State Senate. In 1855 he came to 
St. Paul, where he established and published 
the Free Press, a democratic daily, which 
did not prove very remunerative. He then 
took up his law practice in that city, and 
made it his home until March, 1858, when, 



494 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



haviiio; been appointed to tlie position of 
register of the land office of tlie United 
States at Forest City, he came to this 
county, where he made his lionie until the 
da}' of his death, which ocurred September 
20, 1880. Of liis death, the News Ledger 
said : " We have known Judge Smith for 
twelve 3'ears ; in fact, he was the first man 
we consulted when we thought of locating 
in this county in 1868, and our confidence in 
his judgment led us to settle in Forest City. 
Judge Smith was a man among men — hon- 
orable to a fault. He could not brook dis- 



honesty or trickery in others. As a friend 
he was genial, warm and true as steel — ever 
ready to assist all who were so fortunate as 
to be associated with him. As a mend^er of 
the bar he ranked among the best — was 
courteous and affable — always working for 
the interests of his clients with a will and 
energy which caused him to be respected 
by his op])onents. In his death the county 
met with a great loss and the community of 
Litchfield one of its most esteemed citizens, 
and his memory is revered by all the early 
residents of this part of the State." 




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CHAPTEE I. 

LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY. 



N NO ]»ortion of the 
great State of Minne- 



,& ''* * " ^br-^ sota IS Meeker county 








surpassed for its beau- 
tiful scenery; its roil- 
ing prairies inter- 
spersed and diversified 
with natural and domestic groves; 
its famous lakes, meandering 
streams and its carpet of Howers 
and verdure. It lies in the cen- 
.,_. tral, or south-central part of the 
^"^j^ State, having for its boundaries 
Stearns county on the north, 
Wright on the east, McLeod and 
Eenville on the south and Kan- 
diyohi on the west. As an agri- 
cultural and stock-raising region Meeker 
county cannot be excelled. The soil is 
very productive — ^a rich, dark loam, well 
adapted to all the cereals common to this 
latitude. It is also Avell suited to the pro- 
duction of tame and indigenous grasses; and 
stock-raising, both native and blooded, at- 
tracts the general attention of the intelligent 
class of farmers that have settled here. The 
greater portion of the surface of the county 



is made up of a rolling prairie, interspersed 
with oak openings ; while a considerable area 
is covered with a moderately heavy growth 
of natural timber. The surface is weU 
watered by numerous streams, which furnish 
ample drainage and an abundance of pure 
water for stock. In addition to the streams 
there are scattered throughout the count}' 
hundreds of beautiful lakes teemine: with 
fish, and at some seasons of the year the re- 
sort of myriads of wild fowl. These lakes 
add greatly to the beauty of the scenery and 
healthfulness of the region, and they have 
made the county noted throughout the State 
as a " sportsman's paradise." 

The principal stream is the Crow River, 
which traverses with sinuous course through 
the northeastern portion of the county, and 
with its many little affluents drains a con- 
siderable area of territory. The St. Paul, 
Minneapolis & Manitoba Railway Company 
have a branch, known as the Breckinridge 
division, that intersects Meeker county, 
crossing the boundary line at the north line 
of section 30, in Dassell township, on the 
east, and after crossing the townships of 
Dassell, Darwin, Litchfield and Acton, re- 
crosses the county's limits, on the west, at 
the north line of section 7, of the latter town- 
ship. This road, which is one of the best in 
the State, affords ample facilities for the 



499 



50O 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



marketing of tlie products of the county and 
vicinit}', and the transportation of freight or 
passengers. Tiie nortliern part of the county 
is ])rovided with shipping facilities by the 
Minneapolis & Pacific liaihvay, upon the 
line of which is located two stations within 
the limits of Meeker county. 



•^^'^^'^- 



CHAPTER II. 



EARLY SETTLEMENT. 






^^HE annals of the early settlement 

y of the county, while it is the most 

difficult to collate, is yet the most 



interesting and 



entertaining to the general 



reader, and of absorbing interest to the pio- 
neer himself. For several years prior to the 
advent of white settlers, this portion of the 
State was frequently traversed by hunters 
and trappers. The nomadic Indian for ages 
had here found his hunting ground, and 
doubtless his battlefield, and the woods, if 
they could speak, could tell of dire deeds of 
blood that were #nacted beneath their leafy 
shade. 

During the summer of 1855 three men in 
a canoe paddled and poled their way up the 
Crow River, through the " Big Woods," into 
what is now Meeker county. They were 
John "W. liuy, Benjamin Brown and a man 
named Mackenzie, and were in search of pine 
timber for some lumber firm. Pushing on- 
ward through the forest, they emerged upon 
the prairie east of where Forest City after- 
ward stood, and were delighted with the 
view that burst upon their sight. 

"The wondrous, beautiful prairie, billowy 
bays of grace ever rolling in t^iatlows and 
sunshine," intei-spersed with groves of tim- 
ber, islands of verdure in an emerald sea. 
The paradise of lake and land that lay before 
them in its pristine loveliness charmed them, 
and, returning to their employers with the 



report of their failure to find in this direc- 
tion the object of their (juest, John Iluy 
made up a party to come to this ideal land 
and settle. 

In company with D. M. Hanson, Rudolph 
Shultz and Thomas H. Skinner, he came 
back the same fall, by way of Glencoe, and 
on their arrival at the Crow River located a 
town site upon the north bank, opposite the 
mouth of the creek, on section 13 of what is 
now Harvey township. To this prospective 
village they gave the name of Kar-i-shon, 
the Indian name for " crow." Erecting a 
claim shanty upon the shelving banks of the 
ripi)lingstream, Iluy and Skinner commenced 
housekeeping, Hanson returning to Minne- 
apolis, where he died in April, 1856. 

The two adventurers passed the winter, 
for the most part, in their humble cabin in 
the pathless wilderness, to hold their claim 
to the town site, but in the spring, discover- 
ing at some distance down the river, a more 
eligible site for a village, moved on to sec- 
tions 17 and 20, of what is now Forest City 
township, on which thej' at once erected a 
claim shanty, calling the place " the village 
of Forest City." John Huy also, afterward, 
pre-empted the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion li). 

Upon this tract arose the villnge that for 
about twelve years was the county seat of 
Meeker county, and a history of it is given 
elsewhere in this Album. John Huy lived 
here until the summer of 1862, when he left 
the county. He is now a resident of the 
State of California, quite well-to-do. Thomas 
H. Skinner, who was quite a prominent fig- 
ure in those early days, died in Milwaukee, 
whither he had gone on business, August 20, 
1863, and is buried at St. Albans, Me., his 
boyhood's home. 

Rudolph Shultz made a settlement early 
in 1856, he having spent the previous winter 
in Minneapolis, on section 26, Harvey town- 
ship, where he now lives. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



501 



Abijah Bemis came here in the early spring 
of 1856, and was appointed the first sheriff 
of the county, to help organize it. He re 
mained until tlie fall of 1857, and then left 
this locality. 

Milton G. Moore, the first register of deeds 
of the county, took up his residence early in 
the year, 1856, before the snow was off of 
the ground. He remained for a year or so, 
and then left this part of the country. 

Dr. Frederick Noah Kipley and John 
McClelland took up claims in Ellsworth 
township, on coming to this county late in 
the fall of 1855. They erected a cabin on 
the shores of Cedar Lake, where they passed 
the winter, but running short of provisions, 
on the 1st of March, 1856, they started across 
the country to the shanty of John Iluy and 
his party, near Forest City, where they knew 
they could replenish their stores. Although 
it was a beautiful morning when they started, 
the breeze warm and balmy, and the snow 
melting fast, before long a terrible blizzard 
sprang u]i and enveloped them. They were 
compelled to camp that night, and having 
neither food nor blankets, for they expected to 
travel the eighteen miles before dark, they 
suffered intensely. In the morning they 
again started on their quest. On striking 
the river they were lost and could not tell 
whether they were above or below the cabin 
they sought, so about two o'clock they, being 
discouraged, started back for their claim, as 
the storm had abated. The}' had no matches 
to build a fire, the few in their possession 
having become wet, and the want of food en- 
feebled them. As they stumbled on their 
course. Dr. Ripley became too weak to 
travel, and insisted on his companion going 
on and seeking safety, and leave him to his 
fate, telling him at tlie same time, if help 
could be got for him to come to his assistance. 
He perished in the snow near the shores of the 
beautiful lake that now bears his name, and 
his remains were found the following spring 



by W. S. Chapman and a party of others, and 
buried beneath the trees where he was 
found. The Masonic fraternity, of which he 
was a member, on the laying out of the Litch- 
field cemetery, exliumed his body and j^laced 
it in consecrated ground in the center of the 
circle in that beautiful " city of tlie dead." 
McClelland had to have both legs amputated, 
and barely escaped with his life. He after- 
ward removetl to Becker county, this State, 
where he finally became register of deeds. 

J. B. Salisbury, still a resident of the coimty , 
came here first in the summer of 1855, with 
a Government surveying party, and was en- 
engaged in running town lines. In the fall 
he went back to Scott county, Iowa, but in 
the spring of 1856 returned here and made 
a settlement in Kingston. With him came 
Joseph Weymer, Sr., his father-in-law, and 
two brother-in-laws, Joseph, Jr., and Jacob. 
The elder Weymer settled in Forest City, as 
did his son Jacob. Joseph, Ji'., located in 
Ivingston. Jacob removed to Iowa, where he 
now lives. Joseph, Sr., died in Iowa, whence 
he had removed, but Joseph, Jr., is still a 
citizen of the county. 

On the 20th of June, 1856, T. Carlos Jew- 
ett made his appearance in this county, and 
seven days later, having spent that time in 
looking over the country and finding the 
section lines, made a claim upon the south- 
west quarter of section 31, in Forest City 
township. At the time of his arrival here 
his entire capital consisted of $16.19, besides 
considerable energy and Yankee thrift. He 
is still among his old associates, residing in 
the city of Litchfield. 

July 2 of the same year marked the settle- 
ment of Isaac C. Delamater. His claim was 
located upon the southwest quarter of section 
29, Forest City township. 

Josiah W. Dorman and Benjamin Dorman, 
Alpheus C. Maddox, Henry, Warren and 
Cyrus Averill, Mark Gates, Elmer Harper, 
William Higgins, John Fitzgerald, Patrick 



502 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Flynn, John T. Kennison and A. B. Whit- 
nev iiiaile, settlements in the territory now 
enibi'iiced in the civil townshij) of Kingston. 
Josiah Dormandied in this county about two 
years ago; Benjamin Dorman remained a 
resident until about 1878 or 1880. John 
Fitzgerald died herein 1876, and John Flynn 
was gathered to his fathers many years 
ago. Alpheus C. Maddox left this county 
about twenty years ago, and is now living at 
Lake Calhoun, Kandiyohi county. Henry 
Averill left the county, having, when acting 
as sheriff, stabbed Kennison in a fight ; his 
brothers Warren and C\'rus left the county 
about 1858. Mark Gates is still a citizen of 
Meeker county. Elmer Harper and "William 
Higgins did not remain long in this locality. 
John T. Kennison made his residence here 
until about 1870, and is now a citizen of 
Minneapolis ; and A. B. Whitney, after about 
two years' residence, emigrated to California, 
where he now lives. S. B. Ilutchins, another 
settler in the same town in the year 1856, re- 
mained here until 1863, when he left, and 
now has his home in French Lake township, 
Wright county. 

John Bramhall came to this county the 
same spring, and located in Forest City. He 
was a carpenter by trade, and the first in the 
county. 

Nathan C. Caswell, Ziba Caswell, Christo- 
pher Davis, and Green Sykes, made a trip 
through this county in November, 1855, in 
search of a mill site and lands for farming. 
This part}"^ returning to Monticello, AV right 
county, on the 10th of December, follow- 
ing, N. C. and Ziba Caswell again started 
for the country that had jileased them so 
much on the first trip. They simply came 
to prospect, and that part of the country 
now embraced in the town of Manannah, 
pleasing them, they returned here in the 
spring of 1856, with Alonzo, Silas and Al- 
bert Caswell, James Nelson, Edward Brown 
and A. D. Pierce, and took up claims in the 



neigliborhood of what was afterwards 
known as the the town site of Manannah, 
which was laid out and surveyed in Decem- 
ber, 1856. The new settlement was rein- 
forced the same autumn Ijy the arrival of 
Andrew Hamilton, Charles Caswell and 
John Tower. 

Timothy Dunn and Patrick Condon came 
to tiiis county in 1856. and .settled in Darwin 
township. Mr. Dunn is still a resident, but 
Condon was frozen to death in January, 
1873. 

A considerable number of settlers came 
through the Big Woods together, early in 
July, 1856, and found homes in this country. 
They were friends, countrymen and neigh- 
bors, for the most part, in Lidiana, who were 
on their way to California's golden shores, 
when, at Dubuque, Iowa, they heard of the 
rich lands in this new country and determined 
to investigate. These people were John 
Flynn, his wife, family, consisting of Michael 
J., then some sixteen years of age, Daniel 
and Elizabeth ; S. IMarshall, two hired men 
and a nephew ; John Dougherty and family; 
John Whalen and family, Thomas Dough- 
erty and family, Edward Fitzgerald and 
family, Patrick Fitzgerakl and family, and 
Morris Powers and family. 

After a preliminary survey of the coun- 
try made by Messrs. Flynn and Whalen, 
they all came here and made settlements, 
some in Kingston, some in Forest Cit}', and 
some further west in Harvey. They arrived 
in the county on the Stli of July. Dr. Y. P. 
Kennedy came to what is now Meeker county, 
in June, 1S56, and took the same claim in 
Ellsworth township, in section 31, on the 
shores of Cedar Lake, the same place as was 
formerly claimed by Dr. Pipley. The Dr. is 
now a resident of the county seat. 

Nathan Butler and M. M. Standish, two 
surveyors, came to this locality in the early 
part of 1856, and pi-ospected through the 
country. Butler settled on a claim of beau- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



503 



tiful timber in Acton, which he owned for 
some time, but finally sold, and went to 
Minneapolis. lie is v/hat is known as a 
" cruiser," looking out timber land for par- 
ties engaged in tiie lumber trade, at the 
present time. Standish enlisted in the First 
Minnesota during the war, and never re- 
turned to tliis coimty. 

Two men by the names of George Orcutt 
and Mr. Pratt, made a claim in what is now 
Greenleaf township, in the summer of 1856, 
but having had one of their oxen killed b}^ 
the Indians, this breaking up their team, 
they, in discouragment abandoned their land, 
and a short time afterward left the county. 

William Benson, Swen and Nels Swenson, 
and Michael Lenhardt made settlements in 
what is now Litchfield township, in the year 
1856, and all are still residents of the original 
homesteads. 

C. L. Eichardson and Edwin Ayres, Avho 
were surveyors by profession, made their 
appearance in the county in 1856, and took 
up claims in what is now Dassel township. 
They made their home here until the Indian 
massacre times of 1862, when they left and 
never returned. 

Among the others who came to this local- 
ity this same year, were the following : 

E. O. Eritt, who located in Manannah 
township, where he lived about one year, 
and then moved to Harvey ; he died in May, 
1871. 

David Mitchell and William II. Van Ness, 
both of whom are still residents of the 
county, located in Forest City township. 

Judson A. Stanton made a claim on section 
24, Harvey, where he remained for a time, 
then entered into trade at Forest City. He 
remained there until tlie Indian outbreak, 
and now lives at Sauk City. 

Harrison Thorns settled upon section 17, 
Forest City, where he made his home until 
1868, when he left here for California and 
Oregon. 



' T. R. Webb and Dr. Russell Whiteman 
located in Ellsw' orth : the former is still a 
citizen of the county ; the latter is in Illi- 
nois. 

Dudley and Samuel Taylor took up 
their residence in Forest City, on the 
25th of June. Dudley Taylor entered the 
army during the late war and was hurt by 
the falling of the deck of the steamer "Glad- 
iator," in the Tennessee river, and on his dis- 
charge went to New York State, where he 
died shortly afterwards. Samuel Taylor is 
living on the claim he took upon first com- 
ing here. 

J. W. Walker and Reuben Davis came to 
this section of the State late in the fall of the 
same year and settled in Harvey, but only 
remained a short time. 

James A. Quick came this same year, but 
after a year or two's residence left here, 
going back to Penns\'lvania. 

Charles McAron came to the county and 
helped set up a saw-mill. He ran a black- 
smith shop for a time and left here in 
1857. 

John W. Patterson took up a claim on the 
northwest quarter of section 30, Forest City, 
where he took up bachelor " house-keeping " 
and made his home here for some time, and 
then left for Minneapolis, where he was 
when last heard from. 

Henry Clinton made a claim on the north- 
west quarter of section 32, Forest City. In 
1875 he left here for California, where he 
now lives. 

Peter Stearns, John Peiffer and Gottleib 
Reef, three Germans, made their appearance 
here and took claims in the town of Darwin. 
Peter Stearns, a veteran member of both the 
First and Second Cavalry during the last 
war, is still resident here; Peiffer also lives 
on his original claim, and Reef is now a 
wealthy farmer of Kandiyohi county, having 
gone there in 1865. 

Leander L. Wakefield made his settlement 



504 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



in the fall of 1856, on section 19, Forest City, 
and is still a resident of the county. 

Loring G. IIU3' and Ogden T. Tuttle made 
a settlement in 1856, also, but only stayed 
about a ,year, going to Minnea}X)lis. 

Frederick Cook made a trip to this count}^ 
from Illinois in July, of this same year, and, 
liking the looks of it, returned to his home, 
and the next month brought his brothers, 
Christopher, Ferdinand and William, with 
him and made a settlement in Litchfield 
township. Fred died in 1860 ; Chris, in 
1858; William was killed accidentally in the 
army, and Ferdinand is a resident of Manan- 
nah at the present time. 

Lyman Allen and Messrs. Baker iind 
Allen came to the county and settled in 
what is now Union Grove, this same year. 
Baker died here, and the other two, in 1860, 
returned to their home in the "Old Bay 
State." 

Daniel Cross located in Cedar Mills town- 
ship in 1856, where he made his home until 
he was killed by the Indians, in 1862. 

Charles E. Cutts and Walter Bacon settled 
on adjoining claims in the town of Forest 
City, in the fall of 1856, and put up bachelor 
quarters, where they lived. Mr. Cutts, who 
has been prominently identified with the his- 
tory of the county, is still a resident upon his 
original preemption ; Mr. Bacon, after living 
here some yeai-s, moved to Otter Tail 
county, and is a resident of Fergus Falls. 

James B. Atkinson came to the site of 
Forest City on the 7th of February, 1857, 
where he found but about five people. He 
had with him a load of merchandise, and at 
once put up a store, and in April opened the 
first store in the county. A full account of 
his business afl'airs may be found in the his- 
tory of the village of Forest City, and a 
sketch of this well-known resident of Litch- 
field in the biographical department of this 
work. 

W. H. Dart, now engaged in the grocery 



trade in the city of Litchfield, is also a set- 
tler of the same \'ear, coming to Forest City 
in April, where he found but seven men, who 
all lived in one house. Their names were 
Thomas II. Skinner, Walter Brown, A. 
Bemis, Matthew Stand ish, M. G. Moore, and 
two others. With him came Charles N. 
Shedd, and the two men took up adjoining 
claims in Forest City township. 

About the same time that Atkinson came, 
there appeared Henry N. Baker, one of the 
original Baker family, from Waukeegan, 111., 
a jolly scapegrace, most widely known, who 
hoped to bury in the woods some of his 
escapades. He remained here for a few 
years, and then returned to his friends. He 
acted as judge of probate here in 1857-8-9. 

Jacob Ball, carpenter, located in the village 
of Forest City, this county, in the spring of 
1857, and erected a store building for James 
B. Atkinson. He followed his trade some- 
what, and taking up a claim on section 4, did 
some farming. After a few years passed 
here, he returned to Canada. 

Rev. John Robson, an ordained minister 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, came 
to the new settlement at Forest Cit}"^ early 
in the same year, and preempted 160 acres 
of land, the northwest quarter of section 20, 
and operated the saw-mill for a time. He 
was the first justice of the peace, and made 
this place his home for a few years, but left 
here previous to the Indian outbreak, remov- 
ing to the far East, and died at Medford, 
Mass. 

H. Walker, a carpenter, came to the rising 
village in May, 1857, and took up his resi- 
dence. After some years' residence here he 
removed from the county, and, when last 
heard from, was keeping a hotel at Buffalo, 
Wright county. 

Thomas Grayson, also a knight of the saw, 
plane and chisel, settled in the town aV)out 
the same time. He is still a resident of the 
countv. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



507 



J. W. Griswold settled about the same 
time, and remained for a few years. He 
now lives in Minneapolis. 

James Willis, who is a resident at the 
present of the town of Litchfield, located in 
a claim south of Forest City in 1857, where 
he made his home for many years, 

Among the other arrivals of the same \'ear 
Avas Hamlet Stevens, now a banker of the 
City of Litchfield, who located at Forest City. 

The tide of immigration having set toward 
this section of the State, Avest of the "Big 
Woods," many, being delighted with the 
picturesque scenery and abundant fei'tility 
of the land of Meeker county, settled in the 
county of Meeker during the years of 1857 
and 1858, and the country began to assume 
the appearance of being the home of white 
people. The blue smoke curling from the 
chimneys of the cabins of the settlers, the 
ploughed ground around their little clear- 
ings and breakings, and the hum of busy 
industry announced the coming of civiliza- 
tion. Among those located in the county 
in 1857, not mentioned were Dennis Shields, 
John and A. F. Heath, John Wigle, L. F. 
Haines, Jacob Reef, Isjiac Perrine, James 
Murphy, John Kimball, S. W. Ryan, B. F. 
Butler, Willard Keats, Charles McPartheon, 
David Ralston, L. A. Henry, Richard Poole, 
Allen Teachout, H. M. Angier, J. P. Botham, 
W. W. Woodman, Jacob Knapp, Henry 
Bierman, Louis and Maximillian Cook and 
their mother, A. B. Hoyt, D. P. Delemater, 
A. C. Campbell, Charles Willis, N. O. Grif- 
fin, Patrick Finnegan, Mark AVarren, Messrs. 
Charlton and Andrews, George S. Sholes 
Sr., William Marble, William Cramer; 
Charles, William and Herman Krueger, 
Bengt Hanson; John. Nels, Andrew, Peter 
E., and Lewis Larson; Hogan Peterson, Thol- 
son J. Cornelius, Ole Amundson, Nels Dan- 
ielson, Kettle Haroldson, Henry J. Johnson, 
John Nelson; Jesse V. Branham Sr., and his 
sons, AVilliam, Jesse and Edward; Oscar 



Erickson, Nels Clements, Ole Johanson, John 
Wincjuist, Ole J. Winquist, E. S. Fitch, Bryan 
McNulty, Noah White, Patrick Casey, John 
Doyle, Louis Ekbom, John Dougherty, John 
McRaith. William Cunningham, Michael 
Gallahue, James Shelley, Jacob Reef, three 
brothers O'Brien, Mr. Hagerty, John Ramsey, 
Hans Peterson, Peter E. Hanson, Andrew 
Peterson, Ole Nelson, N. E. Hanson, Nels 
Elofson, Peter E. Lund, Nels Waylander, 
John Rosencrans, Bertha Anderson, Andrew 
Elofson, Peter J. Lund, John and Peter 
Ritchie, Robinson Jones, Howard Baker, 
Mrs. Ann Baker, Abram Kelley. John Black- 
well, Capt. Robinson, Lyman Allen, and pos- 
sibly a few others. 

Rev. J. C. Whitney, in 1858, came to the 
new settlement, and bought the claim of 
Nathan Roberts, adjoining the town site, 
where he lived for some years, after Avhich he 
removed to the city of Minneapolis, and 
acted as United States ganger for a time, 
since which time he has grown quite wealthy 
in the real estate business, and makes his 
home in the " Flour City." 

John Goodspeed settled in Union Grove in 
the same year, where he made his home for 
several years. He afterwards removed ta 
Monticello. 

Among those who took up their residence 
in the county during the year 1858, there 
have been gathered the following names — J. 
D. Evans, A. C. Smith. R. W. Brown, Ursil- 
lius S. Willie, George S. Sholes Jr., J. A. 
Baird, Thomas E. Massey, Charles and Sam- 
uel Getchell, Daniel Campbell, Levi L. 
Getchell, E. K. Wright, James Merrill, F. M. 
Scott, Dennis Cronin, G. W. Parker, N. W. 
Bannister, Charles May bee, E. O. Britt, Vin- 
cent Coombs, Thomas McGannon, Iver Jack- 
son, Bengt Nelson, Dana E. King, William 
n. Greenleaf, Bennett M. Brink, William H. 
Wilcox, Thomas Ryckman, Christian Erick- 
son, Halver Michelson, Ole Munson and Ole 
Lindquist. 



5o8 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



A full history of the settlement, location 
of their homes, etc., of many of the old set- 
tlers is given in detail in the annals of their 
respective towns, or in the biographical de- 
partments, to whicli chapters tiie reader is 
referred for particulars. 

HISTOKICAL ITEMS. 

The first birth in Meeker county was that 
of Sarah Jane, daughter of Thomas Dougli- 
erty, born while the family were still living- 
in a wagon, before getting to their claim, 
July 15, 1856. She is now living with her 
parents in Harvey township. 

The first male child was Ole T. Halverson, 
son of Henr}' and ]\Iai'garet Halverson, born 
December, 11 1856, in Litchfield township. 

The first death W'as that of Dr. Frederick 
N. Eipley, who was frozen to death March 3, 
1856, on the shores of the beautiful lake that 
bears his name, in Litchfield township, and 
commemorates this unhappy man's cruel 
fate. The second death was that of Frank 
Parsons, who died Noveinl)er 20, 1856, and 
was buried on the town site of Foi'est City. 

The first land bi'oken was by Benjamin 
Dorman, in the summer of 1856, in Kings- 
ton township. Morris Powers broke the sod 
next the same season. 

Thefirst house erected was a shanty, put 
.up by John Huy and his party at the junc- 
tion of the creek with the Crow river, on sec- 
tion 13, Ilai-vey township, in the summer of 
1855. 

The first barn was built by OlelL Ness in 
the summer of 1856, in Ripley, now Litch- 
field township. 

The first religious services were held at 
Forest City in November, 1856, at which 
Ilev. John Robson, a ]\rethodist clergyman, 
delivered the sermon and led the exercises. 

On the 2-2d of :\[arch, 1858, the United 
States land office, under A. C. Smith, reg- 
ister, and John D. Evans, receiver, was 
opened at Forest City, and this was deemed 



an important era in the history of that town 
and of the county. There was but a small 
quantity of land upon which claims had been 
filed at that time, in this portion of the 
State, and consequently, with the consider- 
able title of immigration this way, the land 
office was crowded nearly all the time. Old 
settlers state that in those davs it was no 
uncommon sight toseea large number of land- 
seekers camped all around the office, await- 
ing their turn to enter their claim or ti-ansact 
other business with the officers. The build- 
ing in which it was located was a small log 
shanty. Here the office remained until after 
the Indian outbreak in August, 1862, when 
it was removed back to Minneapolis, but 
some time after the cessation of hostilities 
and peace again reigned upon the bonier it 
was brought l)ack to this county and located 
at Greenleaf, where it remained some time. 

The first homestead under the act of Con- 
gress authorizing their entry was taken and 
filed by Samuel Taylor in 1863; this was 
located upon the south half of the southeast 
quai'ter of section -1, in the town of Darwin, 
and was first claimed by Richard Poole. 

The first term of the district court held in 
the county was in October, 1859, with lion. 
E. O. ILamlin upon the bench, and met in 
the office of A. C. Smith, in Forest City. 
The first case before the court was that of 
John Peiffert'.^. Peter Stearns, and was a sin- 
gular one. They were brothers-in law, and 
hail erected one cabin on the line between 
their farms, so as to cover both with their 
residence. After a time they quarreled, and 
Peiffersliot Stearns as the latter was attem]it- 
ing to cany off his share of the lumber of 
the house, and to settle the shooting case 
Peiffer gave the other a chattel mortgage on 
two yoke of oxen, but on the maturity of the 
claim refused to give up the cattle, as the 
mortgage had been given to comjiouiid a fel- 
ony. During this ti'ial, as to who was the 
owner of the cattle, was impaneled the first 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



509 



petit jury in tlie county, which consisted of 
the following named : George S. Sholes, Sr., 
foreman ; Azro B. Iloyt, J. C. Scribner, Alex- 
ander Lee, T. E. AVebb, Thos. Dougherty, 
A. C. Maddox, Samuel L. Getcliell, George 
"W. Baird, Edward Brown, John Black well 
and Charles Duffy. Tlie verdict was found 
for tlie plaintiff, tliree cents damages. U. S. 
Willie appeared for Stearns, and A.C. Smith 
for Peiffer. These two were tlie sole mem- 
bers of the bar, but at this term AVilliam 
Kichards was admitted to tlie bar, tlie first 
in the county so honored. 

The first gristmill in die county was erected 
at Kingston. Its construction was com- 
menced in 1856, by A. P. AVhitney, and 
finished the following year. This was the 
pioneer mill of the region lying west of the 
Big Woods, and was a gi-eat advantage to 
the earlj' settlers, as all their flour, previous 
to its completion, had to lie hauled here by 
teams from St. Paul. This mill is still in 
operation. Mills were built shortly after 
this, one at Greenleaf anil one at Porest City. 

The pioneer postoffice of the county was 
established in the spring of 1857, at Forest 
City, with James B. Atkinson as postmaster. 
Pie had the office in his store, but there was 
no regular mail until the fall of the same 
year, when a mail route was established be- 
tween that point and St. Cloud, and a man 
by the name of Evans became mail-carrier. 
He covered the thirty-five miles between the 
two places on foot, and frequently got into 
Forest City b\' 2 o'clock in the afternoon. 

The first hotel in the county was a log 
building, where entertainment of a primitive 
character was dispensed in 1856 and 1857, 
by Mr. and Mrs. Dudley Taylor. 



-««: 



CHAPTER III. 
OFFICIAL MATTERS. 



ZT IS intended, that grouped together 
under this general head, will be given 
all that pertains to the otticial life of 
the county, those who have represented it 



and its citizens in office, property valuations, 
educational statistics and all other kindred 
matter that is drawn from official records, 
and worthy of preservation in a volume of 
this character. The first point taken up, 
therefore, will be 

ORGANIZATION. 

The Seventh Territorial Legislature which 
met in the spring of 1856, ordered the crea- 
tion and organization of a county to be 
called Meeker, in honor of Hon. B. B. 
Meeker, of St. Anthony, and to contain 
within its boundaries all that is now defined 
by them, except what is now the townships 
of Cosmos and Cedar Mills. This act of 
creation is dated February 23, 1856. Pre- 
vious to that time, this territory had been 
considered a part of Kandiyohi county, but 
was almost without any definite boundaries. 
Under this act, the Governor appointed 
Thomas H. Skinner, Dr. Frederick N. Eip- 
ley and J. W. Iluy, as commissioners to 
complete the organization. 

Accordingly, on the 5tli of May, the first 
board met at the house of Mr. Skinner, in 
Forest City, where the seat of justice had 
been located, and appointed Milton G. Moore, 
register of deeds, Thos. H. Skinner, clerk of 
the board, and Abijah Beniis, sheriff. At 
the same time they made into one election 
precinct the whole county, to be named 
Forest City precinct. Thus was born the 
county of Meeker. No assessments or levy 
of taxes were made in the county that year, 
nor were there any bills presented or paid by 
the board. The latter simply started the 
machineiy and held their seats until the due 
qualification of their elected successors. 
The following is the record of the succeed- 
ing 

BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. 

At the second meeting of board, January 
5, 1857, the county was divided into three 
assessment districts, as follows : The town- 



510 



MEEKER COUNJ-Y, MINNESOTA. 



ships in range 29, and the east half of the 
townsiiips in i-ange 30, were designated as 
district No. 1 ; the west lialf of the town- 
ships in range 30, and all the townships in 
range 31 were to be district No. 2; and the 
townships in ranges 32 and 33 were to con- 
stitute district No. 3. The assessors elected 
in October, 1856, having failed to present 
themselves, or to qualify, the commissionei's 
appointed A. P. Whitney to assess No. 1 ; 
John E. Kimball to assess No. 2, and Lyman 
Baker to assess No. 3. 

At a meeting on the Cth of April, 1857, 
the county was divided into four election pre- 
cincts, which were designated as Kingston, 
Forest City, Round Lake and Union Grove 
precincts. At this meeting nine petitions for 
roads were presented to the board, the first 
business of the kind to come before it. 

At the meeting on the 20th of July, 1857, 
the office of sheriff having become vacant by 
the removal of Abijah Bemis from the coun- 
ty, T. C. Jewett was appointed to fill the 
vacancy. 

In October, 1857, a meeting of the board 
was held, at which the county was divided 
into four school districts, with boundaries 
the same as the election precints. 

On the 5th of October, 1857, the first bill 
audited and ordered paid by the board was 
presented by John W. Goodspeed, for ser- 
vices in assessing district No. 3. 

The following is a complete list of the 
gentlemen who have comjiosed the board of 
county commissioners for each year since 
the county was organized, as complete and 
correct as it is possible, at this late day, to 
make it : 

1850. Thomas H. Skinner, John Huy and 
Frederick N. Ripley. 

1857. J. T. Kinnison, John Wigle and J. 
W. Griswold, and later T. G. Gould. 

1858. A. P. Whitney, John Wigle, Mark 
Warren, Peter Ritchie, Ziba Caswell, and J. 
V. Branham Sr. 



1859. Peter Ritchie, Mark Warren, John 
Wigle, Charles Low, Robert Lang and J . W. 
Dame. 

1860. E. ]\[. AVhitney, Mark Warren and 
Linus Howe. 

1861. J. C. Whitney, Peter Ritchie, and 
J. V. Branham, Sr. 

1862. Charles E. Cutts, E. B. Kingsley, 
E. A. Chapin, E. H. Whitney, James B. At- 
kinson and Samuel Taylor. 

1863. George S. Sholes, Sr., IL Hall and 
Moody Caswell. 

1864. George S. Sholes, Sr., II. Hall, 
Michael Johnson and F. McCusker. 

1865-6. G. S. Sholes, Sr., II. Hall, and 
Ziba Caswell. 

1867. M. J. Flynn, H. Hall, and Ziba 
Caswell. 

1868. W. H. Dart, S. Y. Gordon, and A. 
N. Fosen. 

1869. W. E. Graham, J. B. Atkinson, 
and A. N. Fosen. 

1870. J. B. Atkinson, W. E. Graham, 
and H. Halvorson. 

1871. J. A. C. Waller, Even Evenson, H. 
C. Bull, Patrick Flynn and N. C. Hines. 

1872. E. Evenson, N. C. Hines, Patrick 
Flynn, H. C. Bull, and Chauncey Butler. 

1873. C. Butler, N. C. Hines, E. Evenson, 
Patrick Flynn, and Henry Clay. 

1874. C. Butler, E. Evenson, Henry Clay, 
B. F. Spaulding, and Joseph Hubbard. 

1875. E. Evenson, II. Halvorson, H. Clay, 
Joseph Hubbard and B. F. Spaulding. 

1876. Even Evenson, H. Halvorson, Jo- 
seph Hubbard, Louis Rudberg, and B. F. 
Spaulding. 

1877. Even Evenson, chairman; Joseph 
Hubbard, Henry Halvorson, J. \l. Pender- 
gast, and Isaac Lloyd. 

1878. Even Evenson, chairman ; Joseph 
Hubbard, Isaac Lloyd, V. H. Harris, and C. 
A. McCoUom.- 

1879. C. A. McColloni, chairman ; Joseph 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



5" 



Hubbard, V. H. Harris, O. M. Linnell, and 
Isaac Lloyd. 

1880. V. H. Harris, chairman; C. A. Mc- 
CoUom, W. H. Wilcox, O. M. Linnell, and 
Isaac Lloyd. 

188L Peter E. Hansen, chairman ; Kas- 
mus Nelson, Claus Anderson, Isaac Lloyd, 
and W. H. Wilcox. 

1882. Peter E. Hansen, chairman ; Isaac 
Lloyd, Kasmus Nelson, C. Anderson, and W. 
H. Wilcox. 

1883. Peter E. Hansen, chairman; C. 
Anderson, R. Nelson, F. F. Phillips, and C. 
H. Atkinson. 

1884. Andrew Nelson, chairman; F. F. 
Phillips, C. A. McCoUora, C. II. Atkinson, 
and R. Nelson. 

1885. Andrew Nelson, chairman; F. F. 
Phillips, C. A. McCollom, C. II. Atkinson, 
and John Bloraberg. 

1886. Andrew Nelson, chainnan; F. F. 
Phillips, C. H. Atkinson, John Blomberg, 
and C. A. McCollom. 

188Y. V. H. Harris, chairman; John 
Blomberg, N. C. Caswell, Peter Sangreen, 
and William M. Abbott. 

1888. V. H. Harris, chairman ; John 
Blomberg, Peter Sangreen, William M. 
Abbott, and N. C. Caswell. 

MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE. 

Upon the formation of the State Constitu- 
tion, July 13th, and its subsequent ratification, 
October 13, 1857, the State was divided into 
twenty-six senatorial districts. These dis- 
tricts were subdivided into representative 
districts and many were entitled to two Sen- 
ators, and from one to six Representatives in 
the Lower House. 

Under this apportionment, when the First 
State Legislature convened, on the 2d of De- 
cember, 1857, the body was composed of 
thirty-seven Senators and eighty Representa- 
tives. According to the provisions of the 
Constitution the newly created county of 



Meeker became a part of the Twentieth Sen- 
atorial District, being associated with the 
counties of Benton, Sherburne and Stearns. 
The district was entitled to one Senator and 
three Representatives. The first Senator to 
represent this district was Hon. Reuben M. 
Richardson, of Stearns county. The first 
Representatives were Hon. J. B. Atkinson, 
of Meeker county; John L. Young, of Benton 
county, and Joseph B. Carpenter, of Sher- 
burne county. 

When the Second State Legislature con- 
vened, December 7, 1859, Meeker county was 
still a part of the Twentieth Senatorial Dis- 
trict which at that time was represented in 
the Senate by C. C. Andrews, of Stearns 
county, and in the House by U. S. Willie, of 
Meeker county; G. W. Sweet, of Benton 
county, and M. C. Tolman, of Anoka county. 
The "apportionment of 1860" was made by 
this Legislature, and by the re-arrangement 
of districts Meeker county was associated 
with the counties of Carver, Wright, LcLeod, 
Kandiyohi and Monongalia in constituting 
the Sixth Senatorial District, the district be- 
inf entitled to elect one Senator and thi-ee 
Representati ves. 

The Third Legislature assembled on the 8th 
of January, 1861, and adjourned on the 8th 
of March. In this session the newly-formed 
Sixth District was represented in the Senate 
by Hon. Samuel Bennett, of Wright county, 
and in the Lower House by Hon. V. P. Ken- 
nedy, of Meeker county; Hon. T. D. Ken- 
nedy, of Kandiyohi county, and Hon. William 
R. Baxter, of Carver county. 

On the 7th of January, 1862, the Foui-th 
Legislature convened, and in this body the 
Sixth District was represented by the same 
delegation that had served it in the pi'eced- 
ing Legislature except that Hon. John H. 
Stevens, of McLeod county, had succeeded 
W. R. Baxter in the House. 

In the Fifth Legislature, which convened 
January 6th, 1S63, Charles A. Warner, of 



512 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Carver county, represented the Sixth District 
in the Senate, while in the House it was 
served by C. F. Davis, of IVIeeker county; W. 
G. Butler, of Wright county, and B. G. Lee, 
of McLeod county. 

The Sixtli Legislature assembled on the 5th 
of January, IStU. Charles A. AVarner was 
still in the Senate. In the House were Henry 
Hill, of Meeker county; W. G. Butler, of 
Wright county, and John S. Letford, of 
Carver county. 

The Seventh Legislature convened January 
3, 1865. The Sixth District at that time was 
represented by the following gentlemen — 
G. D. George, of Wright county, Senator ; 
and Henry Hill, Frank A. Renz and C. F. 
Davis, Representatives. 

In the Eighth Legislature, which assembled 
January 2, 1866, G. D. George was still in the 
Senate. The Representatives were — Danna 
£. King, of Meeker county ; L. Harrington, 
of McLeod county, and Chauncy W. Griggs, 
of Carver county. The " apportionment of 
1866 " was made by this Legislature, accord- 
ing to which there were then to be twenty- 
two Senators and fort}' -seven Representatives. 
Meeker county still remained in the Sixth 
district, which was then formed of Meeker, 
Wright, McLeod, Kandiyohi and Monongalia 
counties. 

When the Ninth Legislature convened, Jan- 
uary 8, 1867, H. L. Gordon, of Wright 
county, took his seat as Senator from the 
Sixth District. The district was only entitled 
to two Representatives in the House — Dana 
E. King, of Meeker county, and P. W. Sav- 
age, of McLeod county, being the members. 

In the Tenth Legislature, which assembled 
on the 7th of January, 1868, II. L. Gordon 
was still in the Senate, and in the House the 
district was served by J. B. Salisbury, of this 
county, and Lewis Harrington, of McLeod 
county. 

The Eleventh Legislature convened Janu- 
ary 5, 1869. The Sixth District was repre- 



sented in the Senate by Dana E. King, of 
Meeker county, and in the House by D. Pile 
and W. W. Patteison. 

On the 4rth of January, 1S70, the Twelfth 
Legislature assembled, with Mr. King still 
in the Senate. In the House the Sixth Dis- 
trict was represented by E. Abbott, of Kan- 
diyohi county, and A. II. Reed, of McLeod 
county. 

The Thirteenth Legislature convened Jan- 
uary 8, 1871. The re])resentatives of the 
Sixth District at that time were as follows — 
W. T. Bonniwell, of McLeod county, Senator, 
and W. II. Greenleaf, of Meeker county, antl 
Andrew Railson, of Kandiyohi county. Rep- 
resentatives. The apportionment of 1871 
was made by this Legislature, the State being 
divided into forty-one senatorial districts, 
and tlie House to be composed of 106 mem- 
bers. Under the division of territory then 
made, Meeker county constituted District No. 
3.5, and was entitled to elect one Senator and 
one Representative. 

In the Fourteenth Legislature, which con- 
vened January2,1872,Meeker county Avas rep- 
resented in the Senate by diaries E. Cutts, and 
in the House by AVilliam II. Greenleaf. 

The Fifteenth Legislature assembled Jan- 
uary 7, 1873. Meeker count}' was repre- 
sented by the same delegation as in the 
preceding Legislature. 

The Sixteenth Legislature convened Jan- 
uary 6, 1871. Charles E. Cutts was still the 
Senator from Meeker county, and Andrew 
Nelson took his seat as Representative. 

In the Seventeenth Legislature, whicli con- 
vened January 5, 1875, Meeker county was 
represented in the Senate by Andrew Nel- 
son, and in the House by N. C. Ilines. 

The Eighteenth Legislature assembled 
January 4, 1876. Andrew Nelson was still 
in the Senate from Meeker county, and C. 
E. Cutts took his seat as Representative. 

The Nineteenth Legislature convened Jan- 
uary 2, 1877. Meeker county's delegation at 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



513 



that time was composed of J. M. Waldron, 
Senator, and L. Riidberg, Representative. 

TheTwentietli Legislature assembled Janu- 
ary 8, 1S78. Meeker count}' was represented 
in this Legislature by J. M. Waldron in the 
Senate, and W. M. Campbell in the House. 

The Twentv-first Legislature began its woi'k 
on the 7th of January, 1879. The Represent- 
atives from Meeker county at that time were, 
C. E. Cutts, Senator, ami W. M. Campbell, 
Representative. 

The Twenty-second Legislature convened 
January 4, ISSL Meeker county's delega- 
tion at that time was composed of William 
Campbell, Senator, and O. M. Linnell, Repre- 
sentative. The apportionment of 1881 was 
made by this Legislature. According to the 
provisions of the act. Meeker connty was 
made District No. Si, and was entitled to 
the same representation as under the preced- 
ing apportionment. By this act the Legisla- 
ture consisted of forty-seven Senators and 
103 Representatives. It was also provided 
that sessions of the Legislature should be 
held biennially instead of annually. 

The Twenty-third Legislature convened 
January 2, 1883. At that time Meeker 
county was represented in the Senate by W. 
H. Greenleaf, and in the House by O. M. 
Linnell. 

The Twenty fourth Legislature assembled 
on the 6th of Januar}', 1885. Meeker 
county's representatives were W. H. Green- 
leaf in the Senate, and Michael J. Flynn in 
the House. 

The Twenty-fifth Legislature assembled 
January 7th, and adjourned March 4th, 
1887. Meeker county was ably represented 
in this session by J. S. Shields in the Senate, 
and Even Evenson in the Lower House. 

COUNTY OFFICERS. 

The following is believed to be a com- 
plete record of the gentlemen who have rep- 
resented the people of Meeker county in khe 



various offices in the gift of the electors 
thereof: 

EEGISTEES OF DEEDS. 

Milton G. Moore, 1856 ;Thomas H. Skinner, 
1857-8-9, and 60; T. C. Jewett, 1861-2; 
Thos. H. Skinner, 1863, until August iiO, 
when he died ; Hamlet Stevens, who was 
appointed to fill vacancy 1863-4; E. H. 
Whitney, 1865; J. M. Harvey, 1866; John 
Blackwell, 1867 to 1871 ; N. A. Viren, 1871 
to 1878; August T. Koerner, 1878, to 1884; 
and N. A. Viren, the present incumbent, 
from January, 1885. 

COUNTY AUDITORS. 

Thos. H. Skinner, as clerk of the board, 
was ex-qffieio the county auditor, 1856 to 60; 

D. P. Delamater, 1860 to Kovember, 1863 ; 
James M. Harvey, 1864, resigned in 1864; 
M. W. Piper, appointed by the board and serv- 
ed until 1865, when he, too, resigned , Charles 

E. Cutts was appointed to the office, but did 
not qualif\^; Jesse V. Branham, Jr., 1865 
(Nov.) to January, 1871 ; John Blackwell, 
1871 to 1875 ; Hamlet Stevens, 1875 to 1879 ; 
G. B. Phelps, 1879 to 1886 ; Ambrose Wall, 
1886, the present incumbent. 

CLERKS OF THE DISTRICT COURT. 

J. A. Stanton, 1860 to 1863 ; J. M. Har- 
vey, 1863 to 1867; John Blackwell, 1867 to 
1872; S. W. Leavitt, 1872 to 1884; J. E. 
Upham, the present official, since 1884, hav- 
ing been re-elected in 1SS6. 

COUNTY TREASURERS. 

J. A. Stanton was elected to this office in 
1858, but, failing to qualify, the board in 
January, 1859, appointed Charles E. Cutts, 
who served that year ; W. H. Greenleaf was 
the next, 1860 to' 1862 ; George C. Whitcomb 
1862 to January 6, 1863, when he resigned 
and board appointed A. C. Smith ; Jesse V. 
Branham, Sr., served from 1864 to 1870 ; 



^14 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Henry Hill, 1870-71 ; Hamlet Stevens, 1872 
to 1873 : Amos Nelson Fosen, 1874 to 1880; 
August Palm, 1880 to 1884; and N. W. 
Hawkinson, the present treasurer, first 
elected in 1883, and re-elected in 1886. 

SHERIFFS. 

Abijah Bemis, appointed May 5, 1856, who 
served until fall of the same year, when 
Henry Averill was elected to this office ; the 
latter, having wounded Kennison in a fight, 
fled the country, and T. C. Jewett was ap- 
pointed to the office July 20, 1857, and was 
elected to the same office ; he served in this 
capacity until 1860, and was succeeded that 
year by E. S. Fitch, who served 1860 and 
1861 ; John Wigle, short time in 1862 ; James 
B. Atkinson, 1862-3-4 ; George S. Sholes, Jr., 
1865 to 1868 ; A. A. Sanford, 1868 and 1869; 
W. M. Campbell, 1870 to 1874; N. J. March, 
1874 to 1878; P. Ekstrora, to 1878 to 1884; 
Daniel Flynn, ISSlto 1887 ; and H. M. Holm, 
the present incumbent of the office, elected 
November 2, 1886, and qualified in 1887. 

JUDGES OF PKOBATE. 

H. N. Baker, 1857 to 1860 ; A. C. Smith, 
1860 to 1865 ; E. II. Whitney, 1865 ; C. B. 
Jordan, 1806 to 1868 ; Harvey Wilson, 1868; 
John M. Waldron, 1869 and 1870 ; Charles 
B. Howell, 1871-2; F. V. DeCoster, 1873-4; 
John Blackwell, 1875 until his death, when 
he was succeeded by S. A. Plumley, who 
served the balance of that year and 1876 and 
1877 ; N. C. Martin 1878 to"l8S7 ; and Charles 
H. Strobeck avIio occupies that office at the 
present vrriting, having been elected thereto 
in November, 1886. 

COUNIT ATTORNEYS. 

The following lifet of those occupying this 
position is believed correct, haviiag been sub- 
mitted to those well posted in the county, 
although in several instances no record 
authorizes the insertion of the names : Will- 



iam Eichards, the first, qualified July 4, 1858, 
and served until 1861 ; Mark AVarren, 1861-2; 
A. C. Smith. 1863 to 1867 ; Thomas Brown, 
1867 until he resigned and was succeeded by 
Henry Wilson ; Henry Hill, 1869 and part 
of 1870 ; Charles B. Howell, the balance of 
that year; Francis Belfoy, 1871-2; C. H. 
Strobeck, 1873-4 ; E. A. Campbell, 1875-6 ; 
C. II. Strobeck, 1877-8; S. A. Plumley, 
1879-80 ; W. S. Van Enian, 1881 ; E. A. 
Campbell, 1882-3 ; E. P. Peterson, 188'l^5-6 ; 
and J. M. Ilussell, the present attorney, who 
was elected in 1886, and qualified in 1887. 

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS.* 

The first officer of this denomination, after 
it became elective, was J. W. Gordon, who 
was elected November 5, 1877, and served 
during the years 1878 and 1879 ; J. W. 
Wright, who served from 1880 to 1884; S. 
W. Gordon from 1884 to 1887, and was suc- 
ceeded by T. J. Soule, who was elected to 
that office in 1886, and is the present occupant 
of the position. 

COUNTY SURVEYORS. 

M. M. Standish ; William Kichardson ; W. 
H. Greenleaf, elected in 1866 and also in 
1868; J. B. Salisbury, elected in 1870; L. E. 
Dudley, who occupied the office from 1873 
to 1885; J. B. Salisbury, the present sur- 
veyor, since 1885. 

CORONERS. 

John Heath, 1862-3; O. H. Ness, 1865; 
John Curran, 1866; S. Y. Gordon, 1867-8; 
O. H. Ness, 1869; William Matheny, 1870; 
John A. Quick, 1871-2-3-4; Oliver Kaswick, 
1875; L. E. Dudley, 1876-7; Nels Elofson, 
1878-9; John A. Quick, 1880 to 1884; E. 
Kimball, 1884 and at present. 



•Note.— It Is impossible to give complete lists of those who 
have served in the offices of superintendent, surveyor, coro- 
ner and court commissioner, aa the records do not show their 
namea.— Editor. 



1- 





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I— 
z. 
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o 

cc 

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o 
en 

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or 






MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



517 



COURT COSIMISSIONEKS. 

The record of these officers is very incom- 
plete in tlie books of the county, but the fol- 
lowing-named are known to have served in 
this office: James B. Atkinson, W. D. Stan- 
ton, O. H. Campbell, J. H. Bacon, II. L. 
Smith, Francis V. DeCoster and H. S. Mc- 

Gonagle. 

MARRIAGES. 

The following table shows the number of 
marriages recorded on the books of the 
county from 1858 to 1887, inclusive : 
1858 
1859 . 
1860 
1861 . 
1862 
1863 . 
1864 
1865 . 
1866 
1867 . 
1868 

1869 . . . 
1870 

1871 . . . 
1872 

Total, licenses issue 
1887, inclusive. 

During tlie same time, from the date of 
the organization of the county until the 
beginning of tlie current year, there have 
only been granted some fifty -seven divorces, 
which, in a population which now numbers 
nearly 17,000, is a remarkable showing, as 
against the 3,700 people who have been 
joined in wedlock. 

CENSUS. 

A research among the volumes of the Cen- 
sus Bureau of the United States Government 
shows that the territory known as Meeker 
county had a total population in 1860 of 928, 
of which 572 were of American and 356 of 
foreign birth. In 1870 the inhabitants had 



1 


1873 


. 88 


3 


1874 . 


. . 85 


7 


1875 


65 


7 


1876 . 


. 89 


3 


1877 


. 68 


1 


1878 . 


. . 76 


•i 


1879 


86 


8 


1880 . 


. . 107 


17 


1881 


. 115 


27 


1882 . 


. . 116 


42 


1883 


. 114 


78 


1884 . 


. . 109 


86 


1885 


. 106 


72 


1886 . 


. . 114 


65 
'd f 


1887 
rom 1S58 to 


. 119 



1,882 



increased to 6,090, and in 1880 to 12,069, 
and it is safe to say that it has nearly 17,000 
to-day (1888). About two-fifths of the entire 
population is made up of hardy Scandina- 
vians, who bring to the new New World the 
thrift and economy of their native land, and 
are very important factors in the develo])- 
ment of this county and State. 

COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL. 

The Meeker county courthouse is one of 
the most substantial and serviceable struc- 
tures of its kind in this jmrt of the State. It 
was built in 1885-6 at a cost of nearly $20,- 
000, bonds for that amount having been 
issued by vote of the people. The building- 
is of brick, made in the county, covers a 
ground space of 74x80 feet over all, and is 
two stories and basement in height, the two 
upper stories being fifteen feet in height, 
each. It is surmounted with a Mansard slate 
roof and a tower which reaches the height of 
seventy feet above the ground. It contains 
rooms for all the county officers, with 
capacious vaults and ample conveniences for 
each. The vaults are all situated so as to 
form part of the outside walls, and are pro- 
vided with outside windows, thus aflfordino- 
good light and insuring great safety in case 
of fire. On the upper floor is a commodious 
court room, 45x65 feet, with which is con- 
nected two jury rooms, an attorney's room, 
judge's room and the circuit clerk's office. 
Although the appearance of the building will 
compare favorably with others of its class, 
gaudy ornamentation and style is generally 
ignored, and every foot of available space is 
utilized for business purposes, thus afiording 
larger and more commodious offices and 
apartments than are usually found in build- 
ings of its size. 

The jail building, which is a substantial, 
comfortable and capacious structure, was 
built some three years previous to the erection 
of the court-house. It is provided with four 



5i8 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



large steel cage cells of the latest improved 
pattern, and the foundation of floor is of con- 
crete, three feet in thickness. G. 1>. Phelps, 
county auditor, was the architect of both 
buildings. 

MEEKER COUNTY IN THE WAR. 

Altliougli Meeker county liad a population 
but little exceeding 900 at the last census 
preceding the great conflict between the 
seceding States and the Federal Govern- 
ment, it furnished a number of men for the 
army exceeding her 2:)roper quota. With 
about 300 voters, not one county of the State 
.sent a greater percentage of her citizens. 
The following list of the " brave boys in 
blue," whose homes were in Meeker count}'^, 
has been compiled from the reports of the 
Adjutant General of tiie State, with great 
care, and supplemented by consultation with 
some of the comrades, who have added some 
of the names not credited to this county in 
the official"record. 

ROSTER. 

FIRST MINNESOTA SHARPSHOOTERS. 



James Lang, 
Henry McGaffy, 
Leverson Rogers, 



Horace Mixer, 
Phili]! Page, 
J. W. Walker. 



FIRST MINNESOTA INFANTRY. 



E. W. Pierce, 
Rufus Eastman, 



B. W. Harriman, 
Reuben Waite. 



SECOND MINNESOTA INFANTRY. 



E. F. Branham, 
Daniel Cam]ibell, 
Andrew Nelson, 
Charles Ilutchins, 
Gdbert Jackson, 
Joseph T. Riggs, 
James Nelson, 



H. Clinton, 
Isaac Chapin, 
O. Oaks, 
Moses Hutch ins, 
Christopher Johnson, 
George S. Sholes, Jr., 
W. W. Hunter. 



THIRD MINNESOTA INFANTRY. 

Albert W. Angier, J. H. Bradsliaw, 



William Foster, Lorain Johnson, 

John Peterson, Felix Stark, 

Albert Taylor, Jerome Todd, 

William Willis. 

FOURTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY. 



Capt. F. V. DeCoster, 
Capt.C.H.Stinchfield 
Daniel Butler, 
Washington S. Cates, 
Michael McCann, 
James W. Dunn, 
John Fallon, 
Daniel Rhodes, 
Augustus Whitney, 
C. M. F. 



L. D. Allen, 
, S. D. L. Baldwin, 
A. C. Lawrence, 
Seth Nichols, 
Thomas Fallon, 
William H. Hall. 
Dudley Taylor, 
Joel Taylor, 
C. G. Peabodv, 
Hutch ins. 



FIFTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY. 

Surgeon V. P. Kennedy, R. Bogusrode, 

Benjamin Pottle. 

SIXTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY. 

Paul Mattson, August AVilliams, 

Ole Peterson, Paul Paulson, 

John Johnson. 

SEVENTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY. 

E. Reiff, Emanuel ReifT. 

EIGHTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY. 

James Murphy, O. Olson. 

TENTH MINNESOTA INFANTRY. 

A. Oleson, ■ K. Larson. 

SIXTEENTH WISCONSIN INFANTRY'. 

Azro B. Hoyt. 

hatch's independent BATTALION. 

Cap. G. C. Whitcomb, T. Grogton, 
William P. Bennett, Charles Maybee, 
Thomas Grayson, Frank Howe, 
Henry S. Howe, Charles Peabody, 

Emanuel Reef, J. B. Salisbury, 

E. N. Eastman, W. S, Winston. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



519 



beackett's battalion mounted rangers. 

Edward Evans, "\V. P. Burnett, 

Wm. M. Campbell, E. A. Campbell, 
Samuel Hutcbins, Patrick McKenney, 
G. R. Page, Peter Stearn, 

John Wigle. 



FIRST MINNESOTA CAVALRY. 

John AVigie. 



SECOND MINNESOTA CAVALRY. 

William Branhara, Freeman G. Gould, 

J. B. Atkinson, James Deerey, 

Jasper Fischer, Michael J. Fljnn, 

Egidon Moers, William Koch, 

Maximillian Koch, G. E. Page, 

Jacob Reef, Peter Stearn, 

Carl Schultz, C. Gould, 

William Caswell, John Fitzgerald, 
William M.Campbell, E. A. Campbell, 

Even Evenson, William Heath, 

Henry Luton, G. W. P. Little, 

Andrew Larson, H. Mickelson, 

Samuel Hutchins, Jerome Rogers, 

Thomas Armstrong, Daniel B. Hoyt, 

Otho Campbell, William Armstrong, 

Knute Ilaverson. 

FIRST MINNESOTA HEAVY ARTILLERY. 

Capt. J. B. Atkinson, Louis Koch, 
John Angier, Henry Johnson. 

FIRST INDEPENDENT COAIPANY OF SCOUTS. 

Albert DeLong, J. A. Brink. 

CHAPTER IV. 
POLITICAL. 



/r^ll^-vHE political history of Meeker 

(51^ county is more fully and authentic- 

JIL ally shown by giving the vote of 

the county during the various years, than 

by any other manner. 

The count}' has been Republican nearly 



every campaign since its organization in State 
and National politics, yet on local issues it has 
varied considerably, and many from the 
other tickets have ca])tuTed the coveted offices 
from the republican nominees through per- 
sonal popularity or other causes. In this 
connection is presented an abstract of the 
vote at every general election held in Meeker 
county, as far as could be ascertained from 
the records in the court house and files of 
newspapers. The vote for some years in the 
early pai't of the county's history are entirely 
wanting and a most diligent research among 
the papers and books of the county fails to 
find any trace of them. 

Election, October 13, 1857. 

Member of the CounciL 

Daniel Bassett 38— 38 

Members of the House of Representatives. 

Otis Bradford 93— 

John W. Griswold 92 

J. M. Spear 33 

County Commissioner. 

Freeman L. Gould 95— 55 

A. D. Pierce 40 

County Treasurer. 



J. A. Stanton . . 
I. C. Delamater. 



C. T. Jewitt 

H. G. O. Thorns. 

Wm. Hichards. 
M. Warren. . . . 
W. Warren. . . . 



Sheriff. 



District Attorney. 



95— 
41 


54 


92— 
43 


50 


93— 
36 
1 


57 



J. W. Griswold. 



Probate Judge. 



J. Teachout. 
John Heath. . 



Coroner. 



55 

73— 40 
33 



Election, November 6, 1860. 

President. 

Abraham Lincoln, Republican 166 — 74 

Stephen A. Douglas, Democrat 83 

John C. Breckinridge, Southern Democrat. 9 

The balance of the vote for this year is entirely 
wanting in the county records, nor can it be procured 
in any way. 



520 



MEEKER COUNTY, MJXNESOTA. 



Election, Novemher ^, ISGIi. 

[There were but two jJolling places in 

Meeker county, one at Kingston and the 

othei' at the stockade at Forest City, the 

county being depopulated by the Indian 

massacre and scare.] 

Member of Congress. 
Ignatius Donnelly 38 — 7 



W. J. Cullen 

State Senator. 

Clias. A. Warner . . . 

I. H. Stevens 

Representatives. 

B. G. Lee 

A. C. Smith 

C. F. Davis 

Joseph TVcyman 

Register of Deeds. 

T. H. Skinner 

T. C. .lewett 

Clerk of the District Court, 

J. M. Harvey 

T. H. Skinner 

County Auditor. 

J. M. Harvey 

Sheriff. 

J. B. Atkinson 

Milton Gordon 

County Attornej'. 

A. C. Smith 

Coroner. 
John Heath 



31 

34— 

31 

33 

32 

32 

5 

37— 
33 

26— 

1 

66— 

37— 
30 



14 



66 

7 



23— 23 
34— 34 



Election, November 3, 1863. 
No general election was held this year in 
Meeker county, the inhabitants not liaving 
sufficiently recovered from the efifects of the 
Indian outbreak to give attention to politics. 
Meetings were held at Forest City and at 
Kingston, and several officers were subse- 
quently installed, in accordance with the 
sentiment of the people, as manifested at 
the meetings. 

Election, November 8, 1861^. 

President. 

Abraham Lincoln, R 115 81 

George B. McClellan, D 84 

Member of Congress. 

Ignatius Donnelly, R 115 32 

John M. Gillman, D 83 

State Senator. 

G.D.George 113— 28 

I.I.Lewis 85 



Representatives. 
C. F. Davis ... 

Henry Hill 

F. A. Renz 

M. W. Piper 

.John Hein 

Gustave A. Ruckoldt 

County Auditor. 

Charles E. Cutts 

Mark W. Piper 

Register of Deeds. 

E. H. Whitney 

Hamlet Stevens 

M. W. Piper 

J. H. Harvey 

Sheriff. 

George Sholes, Jr 

William Richard.son 

County Attorney. 
Mark Warreu 

Coroner. 
Ole Halverson Ness 



112— 24 
111— 36 
111— 27 

88 

85 

84 

92— 2 
90 

89— 9 
74 

4 

3 

101— 31 
70 

69— 69 

70— 70 



Election, Novemher 7, 1865. 

Governor. 

William R. JIarshall, R 

Henry M. Rice, D 

Representatives. 

Lewis Harrington 

O. E. King 

E. F. Lewis 

J. S. Telford 

D. W. Johns 

C. W. Griggs 

C. F. Warner 

County Treasurer. 

Jesse V. Branham, Sr 

Chester D. Hill 

Register of Deeds. 

J. M. Harvey 

W. II. Dart. 

County Auditor. 

Jesse V. Branham, Jr 

J. B. Atkinson 

Judge of Probate. 

C. B. Jordan 

J. M . Harvey 

Clerk of District Court. 

J. M. Harvey 

J . E. Warren 

Sheriff. 

Henderson Angler 

George S. Sholes, Jr ..... 

County Attorney. 
A. C. Smith 



105— 13 
93 



103 
103 

84 

83 

80 

78 

19 

97— 22 

75 

111— 39 

72 

101— 18 
83 

45— 3 
43 

103— 30 
83 

88 
88 

40— 40 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



521 



157 



153 



Election., November 6, 1866. 

Member of Congress. 

Ignatius Donnelly, R 299- 

William Colville, U 142 

State Senator. 
H. L. Gordon 298- 

W. T. Bonn! well 145 

Representatives. 
D. E. King 308 

P. W. Savage 299 

George Defler 140 

Edward A . Campbell 139 

County Auditor. 

Jesse V. Branham, Jr 292— 142 

M. W. Piper 150 

Register of Deeds. 

John Blackwell 280— 121 

James M . Harvey 159 

Probate Judge. 

C. B. Jordan 298— 154 

Thaddeus R. Webb 144 

Sheriff. 

Orrin Whitney 300— 300 

Court Commissioner. 
J. B. Atkinson 117—117 

County Attorney. 
Thos. S. Brown 248- 



226 



A. C. Smith.... 
W. H. Greenleaf 



Surveyor. 

300— 300 

Coroner. 

S. Y. Gordon 29."?- 146 

H. G. 0. Thorns 147 

Election, Novemher 5, 1867. 

Governor. 

William R. Mar.shall, R 403— 188 

ChasE. Flandrau, D 220 

State Senator. 
A. C. Smith 210— 210 

Representatives. 

J. B. Salisbury 361 

Lewis Harrington 384 

M. V. Cochran 211 

M. W. Piper 223 

County Treasurer. 

J. V. Branham, Sr 380 —148 

Andrew Elofson 232 

Clerk of the District Court. 

John Blackwell 400 —188 

E. A. Evans 212 

Sheriff. 

A. A. Sanford 399— 179 

H. G. O. Thorns 220 

Judge of Probate. 
Harry Wilson 398— 185 

James B. Atkinson 213 



Harry Wilson. 
A. C. Smith... 



County Attorney. 



Election, November 3, 1868. 

President. 

U. S.Grant, R 

Horatio Seymour, D 

Member of Congress. 

C. C. Andrews, R 

E. M. Wilson 

Ignatius Donnelly 

State Senator. 

Dana E. King, R 

Mark W. Piper, D 

Representatives. 

W. W. Patterson, R 

Daniel Pyle, R 

EliE. Lewis, D 

Ashley C. Riggs, D 

County Auditor. 

Jesse V. Branham, Jr 

Hamlet Stevens 

Register of Deeds. 

John Blackwell 

H. L. Smith 

Probate Judge. 

John M. Waldron 

James Thorns 

County Attorney. 

Henry Hill 

Surveyor. 

William H. Greenleaf 

Coroner. 

Ole Halverson Ness 

M.J. Flyun 

Election, November S, 1869. 

Governor. 

Horace Austin, R 

Geo. L. Otis, D 

Daniel Cobb, P 

Representatives. 

A. H. Reed 

Burroughs Abbott 

A. G. Sexton 

Albert Sperry 

County Treasurer. 

Henry Hill 

Hamlet Stevens 

Sheriff. 

William M . Campbell 

Samuel G. Gordon 

County Attorney. 
Chas. B. Howe. No opposition. 



357 —185 
172 



600 

285 

459 
291 
133 

539 
336 

592 
592 

289 
288 

531 
332 

603 

378 

570 
303 

593 

590 ■ 

591 - 



-315 



—168 



—203 



-203 
-204 



-199 
-325 
-268 

-592 
-590 
-303 



630 —336 
294 



627— 346 
624— 344 

281 
280 



500- 
414 

493- 
399 



86 



94 



522 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Coroner. 
William Matheney. No opposition. 
On the question of removal of the county seat to Litch- 
field: 

For the removal 508— 89 

Against the removal 419 

Election, November 5, 1872. 

President. 

U. S. Grant, R 908— 532 

Horace Greeley, D 476 

Members of Congress. 

John T. Averill 881— 383 

George L. Becker 498 

State Senator. 

Chas. E. Cutts 809— 334 

Charles B. Howell 575 

Representatives. 

"William Greenleaf 829— 384 

Dillon O'Brien 545 

County Auditor. 

John Blackwell 896— 327 

Jesse V. Brauham, Jr 469 

Register of Deeds. 

N. A. Viren 934— 483 

John W. McKeen 451 

County Attorney. 

0. H. Strobeck 915— 475 

Francis Belfoy 440 

Judge of Probate. 

F. V. DeCoster 817— 391 

E. A. Campbell 526 

County Surveyor. 

L. E. Dudley 919 —455 

Asa Garland 464 

Coroner. 

John A. Quick , ... 850— 323 

H. F. Edmund 524 

Henry Clay 4 

Election., Nmeml)er ^, 1873. 

Governor. 

C. K. Davis, R 839—430 

A.Barton, D 419 

County Treasurer. 

Amos N. Fosen 681— 108 

Hamlet Stevens 573 

Sheriff. 

N. J. March 726— 190 

Geo. W. Brower 457 

H. M. Angier 79 

Court Commissioners. 

O. H. Campbell 822— 394 

H. C. Bull 428 

Representative. 
Andrew Nelson 787—335 

Orrin Whitney 452 



Election, Novemher 3, 187 ^. 

Member of Congress. 

Eugene M. Wilson 875— 151 

William S. King 724 

State Senator. 

Andrew Nelson 798— 14 

J. M. Waldron 784 

Representative. 

N. C. Hines 731— 52 

L. G. Pendergast 679 

W. W. Hobbs 168 

County Auditor. 

Hamlet Stevens 937— 274 

John Waller 663 

Register of Deeds. 

N. A. Viren 1582—1582 

Judge of Probate. 

John Blackwell 923— 254 

S. A. Plumley 669 

County Attorney. 

E. A. Campbell 898— 227 

C. H. Strobeck 671 

County Commissioner. 

J.H.Bacon 1588—1588 

Coroner. 

Oliver Rasmick 881— 164 

J. A. Quick 717 

Election, Novemher 2, 1875. 

Governor. 
J. S. Pillsbury, R 720— 55 

D. L. Buell.D 665 

Representative. 
C.E.Cuttr, 704— 15 

V.P.Kennedy 689 

County Treasurer. 

Amos N. Fosen 759 — 135 

M. J. Flynn 624 

Clerk of the District Court . 

S. W. Leavitt 726— 57 

J. Q. A. Braden 669 

Sheriff. 

N.J.March 712— 49 

P. Ekstrom 673 

Judge of Probate. 

S. A. Plumley 721— 83 

N. C. Martin 638 

Coroner. 

L.E.Dudley 747— 82 

L. P. Poster 655 

Election, Novemher 7, 1876. 

President. 

R. B. Hayes, R 1211—381 

S. J. Tilden, D 487 

Peter Cooper, G 343 



MEEKER COUNT 



Y, MINNESOTA. 523 

Representative. 

W.M.Campbell 785— 27 

.Toseph Hubbard 758 

R. K. Beecham 133 

County Auditor. 

G. B. Phelps 963— 230 

H. S. Branham 733 

Register of Deeds. 

Aug. T. Koerner 914— 144 

N. A. Viren 770 

County Attorney. 

S. A. Plumley 904— 129 

L. C. Spooner 775 

County Surveyor. 

L.E.Dudley 901—113 

J.P.Mann 788 

Election, Novemher J^, 1879. 

Governor. 

John S. Pillsbury, R 870— 160 

William Meighen, G 710 

Edmund Rice, D 363 

W. W. Satterlee, P 14 

County Treasurer. 

August Palm 1018— 73 

A. H. Lof.strum 707 

J. B. Atkinson 238 

Clerk of the District Court. 

S. W. Leavitt 1062— 167 

W. D. Joubert .590 

N.Y.Taylor 305 

Superintendent of Common Schools. 

J. W. AVright 943— 139 

J. W. Gordon 804 

Joseph Weymer . 210 

Sheriff. 

P. Ekstrom 1263— 573 

L. D. Marshall 571 

J. B. Hatch 119 

Judge of Probate. 

N. C. Martin 1038— 118 

AV. L. Van Enian 698 

A.C.Smith 227 

Coroner. 

J. A. Quick 9.50— 221 

William Christoph 729 

A. Fryberger 278 

Election, Novemler '2, 1880. 

President. 

James A. Garfield, R 1335— 373 

Winfield S. Hancock. D 563 

James B. Weaver, G 399 

Member of Congress . 

W. D. Washburn, R 1292— 299 

H. H. Sibley, D 684 

Ebeuezer Ayers, G 329 



State Senator. 

John M. Waldron, R 1216— 409 

V. P. Kennedy, D 5.54 

A. C. Smith, G 253 

Representative. 

Louis Rudberg, R 1201— 417 

J. N. McDonald. D 405 

T. R. Webb, G 379 

County Auditor. 

Hamlet Stevens 1034— 76 

A. T. Koerner 958 

Register of Deeds. 

N. A. Viren 1224— 460 

G. W. Jordan 458 

A. P. Ornsdorff 306 

County Attorney. 

C. H. Strobeck 777— 66 

E. A. Campbell 603 

J. B.Atkinson 108 

County Surveyor. 

L. E. Dudley 1087— 162 

J. B. Salisbury 817 

J. B. Atkinson 108 

Electicm, Noveiniber 5, 1877. 

Governor. 

John S. Pillsbury, R 832— 2 

W. D. Banning, D. and G 826 

Austin Willey, P 4 

County Treasurer. 

Amos N. Fosen... 840— 76 

W. H. Dart 764 

Sheriff. 

P. Ekstrom 916— 181 

N. J. March 735 

Superintendent of Schools. 

J. W. Gordon 707— 136 

W. E. Cathcart 571 

R. R. Beecham 376 

Judge of Probate. 

N.C.Martin 883—111 

S. A. Plumley 772 

Coroner. 

NelsElof.son 866— 85 

M. Baldwin 397 

G. O. Trow 884 

Court Commissioners. 

H.L.Smith 825— 14 

E. P. Peterson 517 

J. B. Atkinson 294 

Election, November 5, 1875. 

State Senator. 

C. E. Cutts 866— 37 

V. P. Kennedy 829 



524 



MEEKER COUNTY, M/NA'ESOTA. 



State Senator. 

W.M.Campbell 981— 17 

V. P. Kennedy 964 

V. H. Harris 336 

Representative. 

0. M. Linuell 1120— 497 

Ole Johnson 623 

A. D. Ross 533 

County Auditor. 

G.B.Phelps 981— 17 

Daniel Pineo 964 

Hamlet Stevens 336 

Register of Deeds. 

A. T. Koerner 1250— 230 

James Kline 1020 

County Attorney. 

W. S. Van Euian 1203— 147 

L. C. Spooner 1056 

County Surveyor. 

L. E. Dudley 1236— 188 

J. B. Salisbury 1048 

Court Commissioner. 

F. V. DeCoster 1183— 149 

E. P. Peterson 1034 

Mection., November 8, 1881. 

Governor. 

L. F. Hubbard, R 1061— 306 

C. H. Roberts, D 459 

R. W. Johnson 396 

County Treasurer. 

A. Palm 767 —144 

N . W . Havekinson 623 

Amos N. Fosen 376 

Sheriff. 

P.Ekstrom 969—134 

N.J.March 731 

James McMahon 104 

Judge of Probate. 

N. C. Martin 1035— 273 

J. T. Alley 662 

J. B. Atkinson 100 

County Attorney. 

E. A. Campbell 960 —184 

S. A. Plumley 776 

Superintendent of Common Schools. 

J. W. "Wright 971 —136 

J. Y. Winings 835 

Coroner. 

J. A. Quick 943 —325 

E. Hilderbrandt 617 

William Christoph 237 



Mection, November 7, 1882. 

Member of Congress. 

H. B. Strait 1385— 587 

C. P. Adams 438 

Porter Martin 360 

State Senator. 

W. H. Greenleaf 1100— 15 

William M. Campbell 1085 

Representative. 

O. M. Linnell 1108— 54 

Olaf Peterson 1054 

County Auditor. 

George P. Phelps 1297— 406 

Andrevp Rowland 891 

Register of Deeds. 

Aug. T. Koerner 1361— 660 

H. W . Adlerbjelke 801 

Election, November 6, 1883. 

Governor. 

A. Biermann, D 1 123— 44 

L. F. Hubbard, R 1026 

Chas. E. Holt, P .53 

County Treasurer. 

N. W. Hawkinson 1160— 97 

A. Nelson Fosen 1063 

Clerk of the District Court. 

J. E. Upham 1292— 536 

C.D.Brown 766 

Sheriff. 

Daniel Flynn 1019—239 

P. Ekstn.m 780 

John Knight 437 

Judge of Probate. 

N. C. Martin 2192—2160 

F. H. Wickstrand 33 

County Attorney. 

E. P. Peterson 1301— 183 

C. H. Strobeck 1018 

Court Commissioner. 

F. V. DeCoster 1211— 221 

J.B.Atkinson 737 

A. Wall 263 

Coroner. 

E. Kimball 1315— 305 

William Christoph 1010 

Superintendent. 

W. E. Cathcart 571 

J. W. Gordon 707— 136 

A. J. Garland 238 

Representative. 

W. M. Campbell 841— 48 

L. Rudberg 419 

R. K. Beccham 376 



.'..«w^,«f? 




•I 



Q 






o 
to 






LLJ 

Q 

u-i 



Uj.,1.1 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



527 



Election, N'ovemher 4-, I88J1.. 

President. 

James G. Blaine, R 1456— 184 

Grover Cleveland, D 860 

B. F. Butler, G. and L 294 

John P. St. Jobn. P 118 

Member of Congress. 

Horace B. Strait, R 1448— 165 

Ignatius Donnelly, D. and G 1173 

I. C. Stearns, P 100 

Representative. 

M.J.Flyun 1380— 45 

Even Evenson 1320 

C. S. Clark 115 

County Auditor. 

G. B. Phelps 1857— 981 

E. Kimball ... 876 

Register of Deeds. 

N. A. Viren 1566— 418 

T. J. Soule 904 

A. P. Onsdorf 244 

County Surveyor. 
J. B. Salisbury 2733—2733 

Election, November S, 1886. 

Governor. 
A. R. McGill, R 1377— 61 

A. A. Ames, D 1316 

James E. Child, P 113 

Member of Congress. 

B. B. Herbert, R 1416— 13 

J. L. McDonald. D 1398 

E. B. Lathrop, P 105 

State Senator. 

John S. Shields 1007— 53 

O. H. Campbell.... 954 

Hamlet Stevens 837 

Representatives. 

Even Evenson 1810— 814 

Martin Paulson 996 

County Auditor. 

Ambrose Walls 1467— 136 

T. H. Pendergast 1331 

County Treasurer. 

N. W. Hawkinson 1430— 63 

Rasmus Nelson 1 367, 

Register of Deeds. 

N. A. Viren ■ 1743— 697 

John Rodange 1046 

Clerk of the District Court. 

J. E. Upham 1915—1049 

J. B. Hatch 866 



Sheriff. 

H. M. Hohn 

Daniel Flynn 

J. W. Johnson 

Superintendent of Schools. 

T. J. Soule 

J. W. Wright... 

Judge of Probate. 

Chas. H. Strobeck 

C. M. Gumaelius 

County Attorney. 
J. M. Russell 

E. P. Peterson 

Court Commissioner. 
H. S . McMonagle 

F. V. DeCoster 

County Surveyor. 

J. B.Salisbury 

Coroner. 

E. Kimball 

James Maher 

Commissioners. 

V. H. Harris, 1st dist 

Andrew Nelson, 1st dist 

John Blomburg, 3d dist 

Daniel Jackman, 2d dist 

Peter Sangren, 3d dist 

Harrison Fuller, 3d dist 

William Abbott, 4th dist 

C. H, Atkinson, 4th dist 

N. C. Caswell, 5th dist 



1163- 

1098 

552 



64 



1473— 105 
1368 



1381- 
1083 

1491- 
1319 



299 



173 



1601— 413 
1189 



3793- 

1737- 
1076 



-2793 
- 651 



397— 163 

234 

401— 223 

179 

451- 

308 

213- 

177 

443- 



243 

36 

443 



CHAPTER V. 

JOURNALISM AND EDUCATION. 

/J--7]||5--^WO important and potent factors m 
W 1 9 the civilization and development of 

^JXli any community are its educational 
and newpaper facilities. In these respects 
Meeker county is not behind her sister 
counties, having been provided liberalh' as 
to both these engines of civilization. 
THE PRESS. 

The pioneer journal was the Mee'ker 
County News,\\\\\c\\ was established at Forest 
City in 1868, and was published in that place 
by Frank Belfoy until the fall of 1869, when 
he removed the oifice and material to the 
new town of Litchfield. It was a sprightly, 



528 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIXNESOTA. 



newsy, republican sheet, and well edited. 
It was carried on by Mr. Belfoy in the latter 
town until tlie fall of 1S74, when the sul)- 
scription book and g(XMl-will of the journal 
w'ere purchased b}"^ Daggett & Joubert, and 
the ]iaper consolidated with the Leihjer. press 
and material beinj'- sold to "o to Hutchinson, 
by Mr. Belfoy. The press was the first that 
was ever bi'ought to the State of Minnesota. 

In the fall of 1S70, II. G. Rising com- 
menced the publication of a newspaper, 
known as the Litchfield I?ej)uJj/ican, and 
continued its issue until the autumn of 1871, 
when he removed it to Glenwoodjthe county 
seat of Pope county, west of this place. It 
was, as its name implies, republican in ])oli- 
tics, and was a good local sheet. 

The Litchfield Ledger was established in 
1872, the first issue bearing date of April .30. 
It was an exponent of the ])rinciples formu- 
lated hy the republican party, was a seven- 
column folio, and was edited and pul)lished 
by Daggett & Joubert. It was an able and 
spicy local paper, and attained, from its first 
inception, considerable influence. In the 
latter part of 1S7I: the firm purchased the 
business of the Hews, and consolidated the 
two journals under the name of News-Ledger, 
and the paper ^\■as issued weekly by Daggett 
& Joubert under the double title. In Octo- 
ber, 1876, Mr. Daggett was taken from this 
world b}' death, after which W. D. Joubert 
ran the paper alone until six months later, 
when Frank Belfoy brought a half-interest, 
and the firm of Belfoy &. Joubert was 
formed, and carried on the business until 
August, 1881, when Mr. Belfoy, also, died, 
and four months afterwards the interest 
belonging to him was purchased by his sur- 
viving partner. Under the sole management 
of Mr. Joubert the News-Ledger has con- 
tinued until the present day, growing in 
influence and prosperit}' every year. Since 
the establishment of the paper five of the 
apprentices in the office have become fuU- 



fiedged editors, after having learned the 
principles and practice of the "Art preserva- 
tive" in this school. Four of them are now 
running j)aj'ers in the State of Minnesota, 
namely — S.W. Frasier, of the Brown''s Valley 
Rejwrter; V. Goi'don, of the fnter-Lake 
Tribune; F. E. Joubert, of the AVheaton 
Gazette; and N". P. Oleson, who is jiublishing 
a Swedish paper in Minneapolis. The other 
is M. O. Cathcart, one of the Litchfield 
Ledger staff. 

The liamhler, a small humorous journal, 
first saw the light in 1874, and owed its 
inception to two of the compositors in the 
L^edger office, J. D. Ilayford and N. P. 
Olson. For a few months, while its existenc 
lasted, it aff'orded considerable amusement. 

The Litchfield Lndependent was started in 
1S7C) by a stock company, as an exponent of 
the National greenback party. Among 
those who' owned stock in it were W. M. 
Campbell. E. A. Cam])bell, Dr. V. P. Ken- 
nedy', A. Palm, P. Ekstroni, and the editors, 
II. C. Martin and A. Sanders. A short time 
after the first issue, II. I. Peterson ]iurchased 
the interest of Sanders, and the firm of 
II. C. Martin «fe Co., was formed, who ac- 
quired the interests of the other owners. 
Two years later E. P. Peterson bought out 
Mr. Martin and the firm name and style 
changed to E. P. and II. I. Peterson. These 
gentlemen carried on the pa])er until March, 
1881, when II. I. Peterson, the present pro- 
prietor, purchased the interest of his brother 
and has continued at the head of the journal 
ever since. He is a good newspaper man, a 
pungent writer, and the paper, under his 
management, is deservedly popular. 

The JuitliliKggaren, a Swedish radical 
journal, was established by Hans H. Wids- 
trand, in 1880, as a montldy paper, and for 
a period of a few months operated in this 
locality, but its publication was finaUy sus- 
pended. 

The Litchfield lieview made its first ap- 



MEEKER COUNTY, AUNNESOTA. 



529 



pearance on the 5th of July, 1881, with the 
names of the firm of Lewis A. and Fred. A. 
Pier at the head of its coUimns as editors and 
proprietors. It was at that time an indei)end- 
ent, five-column quarto sheet, but is now a 
six-column quarto, just as non-partizan as 
ever, and an excellent local pa})er. April 1, 
1887, the junior partner disposed of his inter- 
est in the business to Frank II. Ilaven^ and 
the firm of Pier & Haven formed, who have 
controlled the management and revenue of 
the office ever since. July 1, 1887, they 
jjurchased a Shipman one-horse-power engine, 
■which furnishes the power to run their presses, 
etc. Besides his laboi's upon this journal, 
Mr. Pier holds and occupies the editorial 
tripod on the Christian Gleaner, a monthly 
paper published at Minneapolis, devoteil to 
the interests of the Christian Churcii of Minne- 
sota, of which denomination he is a minister. 
The Svenska Folkets Allahanda, fin inde- 
pendent Swedish paper, was established in 
1882, by Gisslo & Peterson, and published 
by them in Litchfield in that language for 
about eighteen months, when it was removed 
to Minneapolis. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Perhaps in no other direction is tlie mate- 
rial development and progress of tlie county 
better shown than in the rapid and enormous 
increase in the educational facilities afi^orded 
the rising generation. A careful study of 
the statistics furnished from tlie official 
papers will convince the most skeptical 
reader that in this respect Meeker county has 
made giant strides toward universal education. 

In 18C1 it is shown by the records there 
were within the bounds of the county but 
245 persons of a school age, or between the 
years of five and twenty-one, while in 1868 
there were 1,426, and in 1887 these had in- 
creased to 4,20-1 scholars entitled to their 
proportion of the school apportionment. 

The whole number of schools in 1861 is 



reported as being 11, which in 1868 had risen 
to 35, and now in tlie present year, 1888, 
there are 81 organized school districts in the 
county, having some 77 school-houses erected 
and in use. In 1861 there were but 4 school- 
houses within the county limits, and in 1868 
there were 12. 

In 1861 it required 8 teachers to manage 
the schools ; in 1868, 15 were necessary; wliile 
now 90 are required for the schools taught in 
the winter, and 82 for the summer schools. 

In 1861 the salaries paid to teachers aggre- 
gated only $343.80 ; in 1868 the sum was 
$1,477, but in 1887 it took $22,392 to liqui- 
date the indebtedness of the districts for the 
same purpose. 

The value of the school edifices in 1861 is 
recorded as having been $345, and in 1868 
$2,270. In 1887 the same class of property 
represented a value of $66,708. 

In the early records of the county there is 
no mention of any school apparatus or school 
libraries, and the furniture in use in those 
days was of a very rude and primitive char- 
acter, while the annual report of T. J. Soule, 
the efficient county superintendent, for 1887, 
shows that the value of school apparatus, 
libraries and furniture in use in the various 
schools of the county v,'as $9,172, being, 
alone, about four times the value of all the 
school property in the county twenty years 
previous. 

The average per cent, of attendance to the 
whole number of pupils in 1868 was 31.5, 
while in 1887 the percentage had risen to 
61.4; the difference being partly owing to 
the increased facilities, hut more to the grow- 
ing interest in educational matters by the cit- 
izens, and a more intense desire on the part 
of the children of this generation for the 
advantages of an education, for thej' can see 
that in this day and age the man who has the 
greatest amount of knowledge has the great- 
est chance for success in life. 

The whole number of trees planted by the 



53° 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



pupils of the various scliools in the county 
on Arbor Day, 1887, was, according to offi- 
cial sources, 2,202. 

Take it altogether, but few counties in 
Minnesota can make a lietter showing in the 
matter of education than Meeker county. 
The interest manifested hy the people, the 



high grade of teachers employed, and the 
general excellent feeling throughout the 
community in regard to school affairs, is rap- 
idl}' and clearly placing the county at the 
head as one of the most enlightened and pro- 
gressive subdivisions of the State. 







^.^'*-^- 



\fm. 




Meel^eii Countij DuMg the Ma^^acrfe. 



1%. / 



-^^<^^ 







CHAPTER YI. 

THE INDIAN MASSACRE. 

'O THE necessaiy hiu'd- 
ships and trials of the 
pioneers of this county 
was added the terrible 
experience of Indian 
atrocity and fiendisli- 
ness. By the first set- 
tlers here, in the midst of 
their hard struggle with na- 
ture, was heard, in 1862, the 
thrilling war whoop of the 
red savage and the sharp 
crack of his rifle, as its ball 
sped to the doom of the peace- 
ful farmer. The tragical epi- 
sode of the Indian massacre 
of that year commenced 
within the limits of Meeker county, and has 
impressed itself indelibly, in letters of fire and 
blood, with fearful distinctness, upon the 
pages of its annals and in the hearts and 
minds of the survivors of that fearful ordeal. 
It is the task of the historian to trace the 
event in all its detail, and endeavor to recon- 
cile some of the conflicting statements re- 
ceived. 

In order to have a full understanding of 
the causes that led to the outbreak, it is 
necessary to give in brief the complaints of 








the tribes, and other matters connected 
therewith, compiled from the most authentic 
State and United States documents. 

By the treaty of Traverse de Sioux, be- 
tween the United States Government and the 
Sissetons and Wapatons, dated July 23, 
1851, ^275,000 were to be paid to their 
chiefs, and the further sum of $.30,000, was 
to be expended for the benefit of the tribes. 
By the treaty of Mendota, dated August 5, 
1851, the Medawakantons and Wapakutas 
were to receive the sum of $2(H>,000, to be paid 
to their chiefs, and $30,000 to the improve- 
ment fund. This sum of $535,000, the 
Indians claimed, and perhaps truly, that they 
had never received, except probably a small 
amount expended on the improvements on 
the reservations. This evident bi-each of 
treaty obligations, caused the Indians to ex- 
press their discontent quite freely to the 
Government agents. In 1857, Major Kintz- 
ing Pritchette, sent out by the Department, 
made a report, in which he sa\'s : 

" The comi)laint which runs through all of 
their councils, points to the imperfect per- 
formance or non-fulfillment of treaty stipu- 
lations. Whether these are well or ill- 
founded, it is not my premise to discuss. 
That such belief prevails among them, im- 
pairing their confidence and good faith in 
the Government, can not be questioned." 

Judge Young, who was commissioned to 



mvestigate certam 



charges 



bi'ought against 



531 



532 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



the GoveiTior of Minnesota, in connection 
with thedis]K)Siilot' hirge amounts of money, 
due to the Indians and paid out under liis 
direction, in his rejiort, shows quite conchi- 
sively that some §320,000 was paid by the 
Governor to Ilugii Tyler, for the savages, but 
a large proportion clung to the fingers of that 
gentleman, and the balance was paid out 
in accordance with the dictates of the post 
traders, and witiiout any regard to the 
wishes of tiic annuitants. Peculation and 
chicanery were rife in all transactions of the 
Indian Department and its agents at the 
time, and this was no exception to the gen- 
eral rule. The Senate of the United States 
exonerated Governor Kanisey, of Minnesota, 
from any bhime in the business, but still the 
Indians murmured about their treatment. 
It is very evident that there was some truth 
in their complaints, but wily men among 
them, who had certain ends to gain, stirred 
up the feeling and intensified it in every 
savage breast. When they wanted an ex- 
cuse, Indian subtlety never lacked one. 

From tlie time wlien tlie Government de- 
sisted from the pursuit of Inkpaduta, the in- 
famous author of tlie Spirit Lake massacre, 
in Dickinson county, Iowa, in 1857, consid- 
erable feeling was manifested by the Sioux 
who thought that the action of the United 
States arose from fear of tiie savages, and 
these feelings were fomented and increased 
with insiduous care by Little Crow, and other 
chiefs. This famous chief was a second edi- 
tion of Tecumseh, on a smaller scale, and 
had formed the scheme of driving the whites 
from the territory of Minnesota, and enjoy- 
ing it themselves, by a preconcerted massa- 
cre of all the settlers by a simultaneous out- 
break. ]\[aturing his plans with a care worthy 
of a great general, by means of a secret or- 
ganization,knowii as the "Soldier's Lodge," he 
adopted means forthe carrying out of all the 
arrangements. It was a deep-laid c(jnspiracy, 
and Ijut for the ])r(Miiiitiirc action of a few 



braves would have been more direful in its 
consecjuences and wide-spread in its effect. 

On the 3d of August, 1862, a memorable 
council was held at the village of Little Crow, 
near the Lower Agency. Little Crow was 
present and was not wanting in the ability 
to meet tlie momentous occasion with a wily 
subtlety. Tlie proceedings were entirely 
secret, but some of the details have since 
been divulged, and it is now known that then 
were matured the details of a conspiracy, 
which for atrocity has scarcely ever been 
ecpialed. Little Crow eaid, ujion that occa- 
sion, that ill this way they could get all the 
land back ; tiiat the whites would want their 
lands again, and that the Sioux would get 
double annuities. But the causes that led to 
the outln-eak are of so complex a nature that 
but few have fully mastered them, and hardly 
any two people agree on all points on this 
head, and therefore, it suffices to give the 
above account, which is a simple statement 
of what is known and fully agreed on by all, 
and not enter into a closer investigation as to 
the details, which are given with regard to 
their general effect in the State at large in 
the history of Minnesota, in this volume. 
"VVe will, however, go at length into the 
account of its local annals within the bounds 
of Meeker county. 

We now come to the terrible massacre it- 
self, the fierce blow that fell, like a lightning- 
flash from a cloudless sky, with such sudden- 
ness and force upon an almost unarmed and 
unsuspecting border, crimsoning its beautiful 
fields with the life blood of the settlers, and 
firing the heavens with the lurid glare of 
their blazing homes. The suivivors fleeing, 
filled with the nameless terror of such a 
moment, wandei-ed around, often to fall be- 
fore the deadly rifle or gleaming tomahawk 
of the ruthless and fierce nomadic Sioux, or 
to perish miserably of want and exposure on 
the broad prairies. 

Although Little Crow, the chief mover of 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



533 



the plot had ordered the simultaneous out- 
break to take place on the first of September, 
■wishing the whites to get in their gi'ain, for 
it was harvesting time, and that the three 
regiments that had been raised to aid in the 
suppression of the rebellion but then, in this 
State, would be forwarded to the front. His 
able tactics, however, were thwarted by the 
action of some "bucks" who precipitated 
matters by the attack on the settlers of 
Meeker county. AVhat was the reason for 
this premature movement will never be fully 
known, as many theories have been formed, 
and hardly two of them agree. 

Rt. Rev. H. B. Whipple, Episcopal Bishop 
of Minnesota, gives tiie following account of 
th'e massacre at the Lower Agency and the 
causes that led to the outbreak, and it deserves 
preservation. It is given in this connection 
just as it was written, but not all, as 
mucli of it is irrelevant to our purpose. He 
says : 

"The Sioux liad been our friends, and for 
more than a quarter of a century had boasted 
that they had never taken the life of a white 
man. Our Avretched Indian system was at 
its worst. It left wild men without govern- 
ment or personal )ights of property, and by 
its alms-house system at every agency, was 
training up savage paupers. The Indians 
made bitter complaints of the treaty of 
Traverse de Sioux — that they did not receive 
the money promised to them, that they were 
not permitted to take tlie reserve agreed 
upon, that large claims were allowed, that 
when payment was made, it was delayed 
until they were starving, and their annuities 
were paid for food. In 1858 they sold 800,- 
000 acres of land on the north side of their 
reserve, to procure additional means for civil- 
ization. This treaty had a provision that 
the Secretary of the Interior might use the 
avails of this purchase, and any of their 
mone\'s, as he deemed best for their interests, 
liut that no debts should be allowed unless 



they had been approved by the Indians in 
open council. Xo such council was ever 
held. There were councils of a few chiefs; 
one was held in our school room, and Little 
Crow was one of the leaders in it. They 
waited four years, and the onl}^ thing they 
received for this valuable tract of land, was 
a few thousand dollars' worth of goods, 
among which were many dozens of Canadian 
belts. At our first meeting Wabasha said, 
'AVill you ask the Great Father what has 
become of our money ? He would not lie to 
us. White men would not have a liar for 
their great chief. He says he would send 
the money — so many boxes. He probably 
started it, but tiie cars go so fast it has fallen 
off by the way. Tell him we are poor, and 
ask him to look it up.' Another chief, Wa- 
couta, said, ' Our eyes have grown dim by 
looking so long for our money. Our old 
men would like to see it befoi-e they die.' 
Sometimes harder words were spoken with 
flashing e3'es, anil many young braves 
boasted they would never shake hands with 
a white man. The civil war was at its 
height, and up to this time the tide of victory 
seemed to be with the South. Pictorial 
papers lay on the counters of traders, and 
Indians believed that the South was victori- 
ous. About this time a company of Renville 
Rangers was organized by the agent, and 
many of its members were mixed bloods and 
Indians. The Indians said: 'The whites 
are all being killed, and now they come to 
us for help.' There were many darker 
stories told of whicli I will not speak. The 
Indians, with foolish bravado, began to 
boast that they could repossess their lands, 
and sweep the white man from their country. 
Most of the new settlers were very poor im- 
migrants, upon whom the Indians looked 
down in contempt. The payment had al- 
ways taken ])lace in June. They came as 
usual — 2.500 at the Lower Agency, and over 
5,000 at the Upper Agency. Misses Catha- 



534 



MEEKER COVXTY, MINNESOTA. 



rine and Elizabetli Beddle, Miss Caroline A. 
Harris, Miss Sarah A. Farninn, Mrs. "Whipple 
and iny son Ciiiirles had accompanied me to 
the Sioux Mission. We found everytliing 
unsettled, the air lull of rumors, tlie Indians 
turbulent, restless, dissatislied. Again and 
again the Indians asked me, ' When will we 
receive our payment? How much will we 
receive?' I invariably answered, 'You will 
receive $20 each, and be paid very soon.' 
No one seemed to believe me. One day after 
my return from the Upper Agency, I said to 
a trader, ' Major Galbraith will be down to- 
day to make arrangements for ]5ayment.' 
He answered, ' Galbraith is a fool. The full 
payment will not be made. Tiie money is 
gone; it has been spent foi' claims; we can 
not trust the Indians because they will liavc 
no money to pay us.' It filled me witli sad 
forebodings. I l>elieved Major Galbraith was 
an honest man, but here was a trader who 
claimed to know more about the payment 
than the agent. Each day there was some 
new dance or gathering, as if the Indians 
would crowd into weeks, all the savagery 
and heathenism of generations. The air was 
charged with elements which at any moment 
might carry descjlation and death to the 
whole border. We left the Sioux coun- 
try about the 10th of July, and went im- 
mediately to the Chippewa country. While 
at Crow Wing, a letter was brought, di- 
rected to care of Rev. E. S. Peake, for 
' Hole-in-the-Da}',' and marked ' immedi- 
ate.' Hole-in-the-Day was absent, we called 
in his head warrior, and opened it. It was 
from Little Crow, the leader of the Sioux 
outbreak, and said, 'My Friend: — Some of 
your people have killed one of our civilized 
Indians. I tried to keep my men back as I 
agreed. I could not. They have gone. 
Look out. (Signed) Little Crow.' Whether 
an agreement had been made between them 
we do not know. We sent messengers to 
warn some Chippewas camped on the Crow 



Wing river, and then went to St. Columlta.'" 
After detailing mucli of liis trip ;ind 
pointing out that a party of Sioux Indians 
were ahead of them bent on tiie murder of 
some Chippewa people, because a meml>er of 
the latter triije, as Little Crow had said, had 
murdered one of their people, the Lishop 
goes on to say: 

"On our way home our Indians (('hi])pe- 
was) said they had seen Sioux signs. We 
laughed at the idea that they could tell a 
Sioux moccasin track from the Ojibway. 
Thev insisted. Manitowaub threw himself on 
the ground and with a stick lifted each weed 
and spear of grass until he could trace a hu- 
man step, and after hours he found the mark 
of a human foot in the sand. He showed us 
his moccasin and the mark in tiie sand, and 
said : ' That is Sioux !' The next day we 
found where the Sioux had camped, and the 
Indians told us about how many Sioux were 
in the party. They found a Sioux moccasin. 
The Indians were much excited and made a 
forced march to reach Gull Lake, and were 
rejoiced to find their peo])le safe. Saturday 
we went from Crow Wing to St. Cloud and 
heard of this party of Sioux as being across 
the river near Winnebago prairie. That 
Sunday afternoon they reached Acton, and 
either for fear of being laughed at on their 
return home for their fruitless errand or 
from hatred of the whites, or because filled 
with malice and deviltry, they murdered the 
family at Acton and then fled. They trav- 
eled all night and reached Little Crow's vil- 
lage eai-ly Monday, August IS. The Sioux 
have a Soldier's lodge, which decides aU 
questions connected with war. The lodge 
was hastily convened, the story of Acton 
told, the certainty that troops would come 
to arrest the murdereis. The spark had 
been laid to the train of powder, and it was 
settled that the whites should be massacred. 
"About seven o'clock John Wliipple, a 
stone mason, who was building our church, 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



535 



Stood by the door of the Mission house talk- 
ing with ill". Ilinman. They heard the 
report of guns, and, looking toward the trad- 
ing post of My rick, saw a crowd of Indians 
firing into the store ; others were running 
toward Forbes' and Roberts' stores armed. 
Shunkaska (White Dog) came running Ijy. 
Mr. Ilinman asked him what this meant. 
He answered, ' Go, go, the Indians are killing- 
all the whites. I am going to Wabasiia to 
see if I can not stop it.' Shunkaska was pale 
with terror. He was a civilized Indian — 
not a Christian. A few minutes after Little 
Crow came running by with other Indians. 
Hinman called him, but lie refused to answer. 
They went to the Government barn, a little 
way from the Mission house, to take the 
Government horses, and were resisted by 
Wagner, the farmer, and his man, John 
Lamb. Crow said, ' Kill them,' and they 
were both killed. Mr. Hinman told Miss 
Emily West, a teacher in the Mission, that 
the Indians were killing the whites and tiiey 
must flee. Mrs. Ilinman was in Faribault. 
Mr. Hinman went to notify some neighbors. 
Miss West started for the ferry. On her 
way she met a woman and child, and advised 
tliem to go with her. They crossed the 
ferry and the In-oad valley beyond, and as 
they came to the top of the hill met three 
Indians, armed. As thej' saw Miss West the 
leader, a stranger to her, said, ' You belong 
to the Missionary ? ' She said, ' Yes.' He 
reached out his hand and shook hands, and 
said, 'Washta' (good). Tlie poor woman 
with her reached out her hand. He refused 
it, and drew his knife and said, 'I will kill 
you.' Miss West said, ' No, she belongs to 
me.' The Indian laughed, as if it were 
strange that this single woman had a mother 
and child in lier care, but Miss West persisted 
and the Indian said ' Waslita.' He asked 
her where she was going. She pointed to a 
distant house. He said, ' No, we are going 
to kill those pei\sons.' She said, ' Where 



shall we go?' The Indians led them to the 
road, and said, 'This will bring you to the 
fort.' " 

The outbreak commenced as mentioned by 
Bishop Whipple, in Meeker county, and it is 
now our duty to enter upon the narration of 
the events, both the massacre in Acton, and 
the subsequent perils, hairbreadth escapes, and 
labors of the settlers and soldiery in putting 
down the Indians during those trying times. 
As near as can be arrived at now, by an 
extensive and exhaustive research among all 
the papers, both State and otherwise, and 
personal interviews with many of the sur- 
viving citizens of the county, the facts are 
about as follows : 

About eleven o'clock in the forenoon of 
Sunday, August 17, 1862, while the bright 
golden gleams of the summer sun poured 
downupon the lovely landscape in the wealth 
of its noontide splendor, and while from the 
throats of the feathered songsters of grove 
and ])rairie rose the glad hymns of peace 
and thanksgiving, six Indians, supposed to 
have been of Shakopee's band from the 
Lower Agency, red fiends with foul and 
deadly murder in their hearts, approached 
the house of Eobinson Jones, which stood on 
the southwest quarter of tlie northeast quar- 
ter of section 21, of Acton township. Mr. 
Jones kept a kind of frontier tavern and had 
for sale various staple articles of groceries, 
among which was the inevitable whisky, 
and besides attending to this business pur- 
chased or traded for furs, and carried on 
farming. The Indians came up to the house 
and demanded whisky of Mr. Jones, which 
tie saw fit to refuse, and some words ensued 
and the savages became quite boisterous. 
Some little time after this Mr. Jones went 
over to the cabin of Howard Baker, leaving 
Miss Clara D. Wilson, a niece, in charge of 
the house, and a little boy, a half-brother of 
Clara and an adopted son of Mr. Jones about 
a couple years of age, lying on the bed. The 



536 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Indians, who liacl left the house some time 
before, followed after Mr. Jones, and four of 
tliem soon arrived at tlic liouse of Howard 
Baker, about three-quarters of a mile distant 
from Jones' house, and, sauntering leisurely 
up, bantered the men, Jones, Baker and 
Viranus "Webster, who was an emigrant 
passing to the West, to shoot at a mark. 
After the savages had stayed in the house 
some fifteen or twenty minutes, the white 
men, taking down tiieir guns, agreed to go 
outside and shoot with them. After a few 
minutes spent in tliis kind of sport, while the 
settlers were standing aruuiid, Mr. Baker 
made a trade witli uiie of the redmen for his 
gun, the savage giving some three dollars 
difference between the weapons. Not sus- 
pecting any evil, and being entirely too 
trusting when an Indian was in the question, 
none of the three men reloaded their guns, 
an oversight for which the}' paid their lives. 
The savages, on the contrary, recharged their 
pieces in the doorway of the house, and about 
noon were joined by the two other Indians, 
who had been with them at Jones' cabin. 
The latter said that they were Sioux, and 
that he knew them all. Mrs. Howard Baker, 
one of the survivors, describes them as all 
being of middle age, one quite tall and one 
short, chubby and thick. The last two had 
on Avhite men's coats, and one of the savages 
had three feathers in his cap and another 
two. 

While they stood there one of the fiends 
raised his rifle to his shoulder and ]ioured its 
leaden contents into tiie body of Mr. Jones, 
who fell. Mrs. Ann Baker and her daugli- 
ter-in-law, Mrs. Horace Baker, were standing 
in the doorway of the house and witnessed 
the cowardly murder, and when another of 
the savages took aim at the younger Mrs. 
Baker, her husband, with noble self devotion, 
threw himself forward to shield her and re- 
ceived in his own body the bullet intended 
for his wife. Almost at the same instant 



tAvo more of the guns of the Indians blazed 
forth their death-dealing contents, and Web- 
ster and Mrs. Ann Baker fell to the ground. 
The latter had turned to run within the 
house after receiving the first shot and fell 
into the buttery, the other two Indians firing 
at her as she pitched forward. Mrs. Howard 
Baker, who had her infant child in her arms, 
in trying to get out of a window, fell down 
into the cellar, which saved her life. The 
last she saw was Mrs. Webster trying to pull 
the dead body of her husband into the house. 
Thus were four souls called to an account, 
cut off in the full prime of their life by the 
fiendish hand of ruthless mui'dcr, and thus 
was inaugurated the terrible massacre of that 
eventful year, that carried death and de- 
struction into so many households through- 
out the State, and fear and panic over so 
vast an expanse of territory. 

The report that this premature stroke in 
the massacre was the outgrowth of a 
drunken spree or broil has been so effectu- 
ally disposed of that it is needless to dwell 
upon it in this connection. 

After the dastardly attack upon and kill- 
ing: of the unarmed men and defenseless 
women, the same red devils returned to the 
cabin of Jones, and, in passing the house, one 
of them lifted his rifle, fired, and killed Clara 
Davis Wilson, who stood in plain sight in 
the room. They did not discover the little 
child nor enter the house. They then left 
the vicinity, taking the direction of the 
Beaver Creek settlement and the Lower 
Agency, leaving Acton about three o'clock 
in the afternoon. The incentive of this 
cruel outrage is sufficiently shown by the 
fact that no robbery took place, nor other 
damage being done except in the murder of 
these inoffensive settlers. 

Mi'S. Howard Baker, who was unhurt by 
her fall into the cellar, still had the presence 
of mind to remain quietly there until the 
murderers had gone. She finally emerged 



MEEKER COUNTY. MINNESOTA. 



537 



from her place of concealment, and, before 
she left the house, was accosted by an Irish- 
man, by the name of Cox, suspected of hav- 
ing been a spy of the redskins, and reputed 
to be crazy. She asked him to go with her 
to the settlement and helj) cany the baby, 
but he, with an incivility quite strSnge in 
one of the Celtic race, refused, saying, " the 
men are not dead but drunk, and in falling- 
down have bumped their noses, which made 
them bleed." He, however, robbed the 
corpses of some $50 or $fiO which -was on 
their persons, and leaving the lone willow 
in her distress, with a total disregard for 
feeling or decency', took the road for the 
Lower Agency. 

Mrs. "Webster and Mrs. Baker, taking the 
latter's child in their arms, started alone for 
the comity seat. Forest City. They stopped 
at the residence of John Blackwell, their 
nearest neighbor, but on their arrival there 
found that that gentleman and his family were 
absent. The two women then proceeded on 
their weary way, and soon reached the 
house of Nels Olson, who had a blacksmith's 
forge on his place and was employed at that 
business. From there Mrs. Baker went on 
to Forest City, which was some twelve 
miles from the scene of the massacre, and 
corroborated the account which had been 
given by Ole Ingeman, who had ridden into 
the town about six o'clock, and given the 
alarm to the settlers. The news spread 
thj'oughout the country with amazing i-apid- 
ity, and many were the parties who started 
out to inquire into the matter and investi- 
gate its truth, for the news was of so unwel- 
come a nature that many wished to disbe- 
lieve it. 

During the week preceding the attack at 
the houses of Jones and Baker, the latter and 
Amos Nelson Fosen, now one of the promi- 
nent citizens of Meeker county, were cradling 
the wheat on the farm of Eobinson Jones, 
but, as it was raining on that Saturday, Mr. 



Fosen concluded that he would visit his own 
farm, which he had rented to Burger Ander- 
son, and see how things were going on. Put- 
ting his idea into execution, he started with 
the intention of returning on Sunda\'. After 
spending some time in looking after his af- 
fairs, he went to attend a " war meeting," 
and was detained so late that he came to the 
determination not to return to work until 
Monday morning, instead of that night. 
Never has procrastination met with so signal 
and sudden a reward, for this dilatoriness in 
his movements undoubtedly saved his life. 

In the mean time the news of the fiendish 
butchery came to the neighborhood Avhere he 
was, and a partj^ of thirteen started for the 
scene. Part of the number went but a por- 
tion of the distance, but seven of them 
pressed on. These detennined men were 
Amos N. Fosen, Nels Danielson, John Black- 
well, Burger Anderson, Ole Westman, 
Charles Quick and John Nelson. They came 
in sight of the late home of Howard Baker, 
and cautiously and carefully approached the 
house, with stealthy steps and peering eyes. 
Finding the coast clear, the}' drew nearer and 
nearer, the friendly shades of night covering 
their movements, and finally, entering the 
house, discovered the dead bodies of Mrs. 
Jones, Webster and Baker. 

After lingering there for a short time the 
little party of heroes started for Jones" 
house, but on the road, met another band of 
settlers, headed by Thomas McGannon, with 
whom they turned back to Baker's house, 
and making a more thorough searcii at that 
place discovered the bodj' of poor Jones near 
the corn-crib, where he had fallen, and over 
whom was thrown a wagon-box. He had 
torn up the ground all ai^ound him in his 
death agony. Guards were properly posted 
and the balance of the party again started 
for Jones' place. At the forks of the road, 
before reaching that point, they were met by 
another squad of settlers, for many were out, 



538 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



the evil tidings having spread fast, and 
stricken i)anic terror into the hearts of a 
jrreat niuuher, while others were seized 
with a desire to investigate the matter. The 
last addition to the little band was a delega- 
tion from Swede Grove, and Avere all 
mounted. On coming to the house, it was 
cautiously surrounded and a plan formed for 
the captui'c of tlie Indians, for it was sup- 
posed that tliey were in tlie house, as it was 
of wide notoriety that wliisky was kej)t in 
the cabin, and it was but natural to suppose 
that the savages had come here after com- 
mitting the murder to indulge in a drunken 
orgie. The dead body of poor Clara Wilson 
was found lying across the pantry doorway, 
but no Indians, and there was no evidence of 
their having entered the house, for nothing 
was disturbed. A barrel of whiskv stood in 
one corner, and several bottles of tlie same 
liquor upon the shelf, but no signs of 
the Indians having disturbed them. In a 
bedroom, lying upon tiie bed, was the 
adopted child of Mi'. Jones, spoken of be- 
fore, smiling up into the faces of his res- 
cuers. The babe, who was about two years 
old, was the grandchild of Mrs. Ann IJaker, 
and l)ore the name of liobinson J. Cotton. 
He was taken from the lied and afterwartl 
placed in the liands of T. C. Jewett, of Forest 
City, who kept him for some little time, until 
he was finally adopted by Charles H. Ellis 
and wife, of Otsego, Wrigiit county, this 
State, with whom he remained until lie had 
attained the years of manhood. 

In another direction, as soon as the news 
came to the neighborhood of Swede Grove. 
Xels Elofson and Nels Hanson got on their 
horses, and, with others, proceeded to the 
scene of the tragedy, and fell in with the other 
party as related above, at the forks of the 
road near Baker's house. Another party was 
formed at Forest City that same evening, on 
the arrival there of Mis. iJaker, for thither 
she had fled, carrying her babe, for protection. 



This force consisted of J. B. Atkinson, Syl- 
vester Stevens, John Wigle, Hamlet Stevens 
and one or two others, and left the county 
seat and ])roceeded toward the place where 
the startling events of that day had happened. 
They met the other squads mentioned be- 
fore, arid, on learning the facts, spread the 
news througiiout the country, warning the 
settlers of their peril, and then returned to 
their homes at Forest City, arriving there 
about four o'clock in the morning. 

Tlie next morning a strong posse, consist- 
ing of A. C. Smith, Milton Gorton, J. B. 
Atkinson, T. C. Jewett and others, accompa- 
nied by Mr.s. Jewett and Mrs. Gorton, started 
for the Baker house, and the settlers, by this 
time all thoroughly aroused to their peril, 
flocked in the same direction, so that they 
reached the scene of the murder some sixty 
strong. An inquest was held that day and 
the facts as stated above elicited, and a ver- 
dict given in accordance therewith. 

Whilst the inquest was in progress, some 
one espied a body of eleven mounted Indians 
ill the vicinity, and gave the alarm, and seven 
men, among whom were J. B. Atkinson, 
Hamlet Stevens, Daniel McGraw, Albert 
De Long and Sylvester Stevens, mounting in 
hot haste, pursued the savages, who, when 
thev saw the pursuit, cut across the slough. 
A few distant shots were fired, Avithout dam- 
age to either party, and the wild race was 
kept u]3 at breakneck speed as far as Lake 
Lillian. Here the redskins were joined by 
another band from another direction, and a 
halt was called. The party counted twenty- 
five well-mounted Sioux before them, their 
own horses were blown and worn out with 
fatigue, and although one or two wanted to 
go on, a vote was taken and the pursuit 
abandoned. One of the pai-ty is credited 
with having shot one of the Indians, who 
was seen to drop, but was picked up by his 
comrades and hurried away with them in 
their flight. The little squad of settlers re- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



539 



turned after feeding their horses and resting 
them, and the savages, who were afterward 
found to have been another band than those 
who committed tiie murders, went on their 
way toward their tribal headquarters. 

While the little company of enraged set- 
tlers were pursuing the redskins, the inquest 
was finished, and, tools being at hand, boxes 
were made and the bodies of the murdered 
people placed tlierein, and the five victims 
placed in one grave in the Norwegian Lu- 
theran Church cemeter}'^, in Litchfield town- 
ship, on the spot now marked with the mon- 
ument. 

Tlie funeral over, the party returned to 
Forest City, whither they were followed by 
almost the entire community, for the panic 
had seized every one, and the trembling 
pioneers saw Indians in every waving bush, 
or heard their yell in every sound brought to 
their listening ears b}' the gentle evening 
breeze. To nerves unaccustomed to this 
tension, the position was too frightful, and 
men could not long stand it. Something 
must be done and that right speedily. 

George C. Wliitcomli, the treasurer of 
Meeker county, left Forest City on that 
eventful Monday, and rode to Carver or 
Chaska, and there took the small steamer 
Antelope, and reached St. Paul about ten 
or eleven o'clock on Tuesday morning, ac- 
cording to the official report of Governor 
Kamsey, and at once waited upon the gov- 
ernor, witli tlie dreadful tidings with which 
he was laden. The news of tlie outbreak, 
which was, prior to his arrival, supposed to 
be only a local emeute, at Yellow Medicine, 
bad preceded him only an liour or two. Mr. 
Shelley, from the latter agency, having rid- 
den in with dispatches announcing the mas- 
sacre at that point. 

Governor Ramsey, in his report upon the 
matter, uses the following language in speak- 
ing of the action taken at that time: 

"I at once proceeded to Fort Snelling, 



and consulted with the authorities there 
regarding the outbreak, and the best means 
to be used to meet the danger. A serious 
difficulty met us at the outstart. The only 
troops at the fort were the raw recruits, 
which had been hastily gathered for the five 
regiments. Most of them were without 
arms or suitable clothing as yet ; some not 
mustered in or properly officered, and those 
who had arms had no fixed ammunition of 
the proper caliber. We were without trans- 
portation, quartermaster's or commissary 
stores, and, in fact, devoid of anything with 
which to commence a campaign against two 
or three thousand Indians, well mounted 
and armed, with an abundance of ammuni- 
tion and ])rovisions ca|itured at the agency, 
and flushed with the easy ^^ctory they had 
won over the unarmed settlers. Finally 
four companies were fully organized, armed 
and uniformed, and late at night were got 
off on two small steamers, the Antelope and 
Pomeroy, for Shakopee, from which point 
they could proceed overland. It was ar- 
ranged that others would follow as fast as 
the}" could be got i-eatly. 

"This expedition was placed under the 
command of H. H. Sibley, whose long resi- 
dence in the country of the Sioux had iriven 
him great influence with that peojjle, and it 
was hoped that the chiefs and older men 
were still sensible to reason, and that with 
these he could check the mad and reckless 
disposition of the younger men ; and if that 
failed, that his knowledge of Indian war and 
tactics would enable him to overcome them 
in battle. 

* * * * » * * 

" Late that night (the 2uth), probably after 
midnight, Jesse Y. Branham, Sr., arrived 
from Forest Citv after a forced ride of 100 



540 



MEEKER COUNTY. MINNESOTA. 



miles on horsebaclv, bearing the following 



FouEST City, August 20, 1802, [ 
o'clock A. M. j 

His Excellency Alexander Ramsey, Gov- 
ernor, etc. 

Sir — In advance of the news from the 
Minnesota Kiver, the Indians have opened on 
us in Meeker. It is war. A few propose to 
make a stand here. Send us, foi'thwith, 
some ffood ouns and ammunition to match. 
Yours truly, 

A. C. Smith. 
• " Seventy -five stands of Springfield rifles 
and several thousand rounds of ball cart- 
ridges were at once issued to George C. 
Whitcoml), to be used in arming a company 
which I directed to be raised and enrolled 
to use these arms ; and General Sibley gave 
Mr. Whitcomb a captain's commission for 
the comjiany. Trans]iortation was at once 
furnished him, and the rifles were in Forest 
City by the morning of the 23d, a portion 
having been issued to a company at Hutch- 
inson on the way up." 

Jesse V. Branham, Sr., whom the governor 
mentions as bringing the dispatch, had vol- 
unteered, notwithstanding his sixty years, 
to ride the entire distance of one hundred 
miles for help, and on his arrival at St. Paul, 
paying no attention to his fatigue or his 
bodil}' wants, at once waited upon the gov- 
ernor, although it was one o'clock in the 
morning, with the result as given above. On 
the arrival of Captain Whitcomb with the 
arms and ammunition, having left thirty-one 
muskets and a part of the ammunition at 
Hutchinson, that place being entirely desti- 
tute of firearms, a company was formed at 
Forest City, of which the following is the 
roster : 

G. C; Whitcomb, captain. 

J. B. Atkinson, first lieutenant. 

Ilandet Stevens, second lieutenant. 

William Branham, fii'st sergeant. 



PI. S. Howe, second sergeant. 
Daniel McGraw, third sergeant. 
F. G. Gould, fourth sergeant. 
A. F. Heath, first corjioral. 
H. J. Hill, second corporal. 
T. C. Jewett, third corporal. 
Samuel Ilutcliins, fourth corporal. 
J. M. Harvey, fifth corporal. 
R. B. Ralston, sixth corporal. 
N. H. White, seventh corporal. 
A. B. lloyt, eighth corporal. 

PRIVATES. 

O. B. Todd, J. V. Branham, Jr., 

James Lang, A. G. Smith, 

Thomas Grayson, Aslog Olson, 
Henry Johnson, H. Lutons, 

M. Gorton, G. S. Sholes, Sr., 

Sylvester Stevens, J. H. Bradshaw, 
C. E. Payson, Halga Olson, 

Lory Smith, Kels Tornborn, 

Jerome Rogers, Oliver Gibbins, 

J. Heath, S. W. White, 

Albert S]ierry, J. B. Garrison, 

Joseph Tiiomas, E. A. Chapin, 

A. Hamilton, H. Behrmann, 

William Caswell, C. D. Maybee, 
Patrick Condon, Andrew Nelson, 

Thos. Ragan, Eli Gibbins, 

Charles Kruger. G. W. AVaggoner, 

Herman Kruger, W. Johnson, 

Michael McGraw, G. R. Page, 
Jesse F. Gobi), Henry L. Smith, 

Alfred Mousley, D. Chapin, 

William Wilcox, H. Mickelson, 

D. M. Ilolbrook. 
On the arrival of Captain Whitcomb, he 
found that the county seat was nearly a de- 
serted village, most of the inhabitants having 
fled for safety to the eastern portion of the 
State, and but thirteen men and three women 
were left of its population. These brave 
men and heroic women, who had determined 
to maive a stand in defense of their homes, 
and whii, by thoir gallant and spirited action, 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



541 



stayed the tide of arson and murder, and 
saved the balance of the State, as far as the 
Mississippi River, from tiie iiendish cruelty 
oi the relentless Sioux. Their names should 
be perpetuated in the pages of history, with 
those of tlie nol^le band of Spartans under 
Leonidas, at the pass of Thermopylte, who 
devoted themselves to the salvation of their 
country. Their names are J. E. Atkinson, 
A. C. Smith, T. C. Jewett. Milton Gorton, 
George S. Siioles, Dr. Thomas II. Skinner, 
James M. Harvey, William i'owler, Henry 
L. Smith, Thomas Grayson, Judson A. Stan- 
ton, S\'lvester Stevens and Hamlet Stevens, 
and Mesdames T. C. Jewett, Howard Baker 
and G. C. Whitcomb. Tliese, however, were 
soon joined by many others. 

During the time while AVhitcomb was ab- 
sent nearly two hundred teams passed 
through Forest City on their way to the 
Mississippi River and safety, with their hasti- 
Ij'-gathered household goods thrown promis- 
cuously upon their wagons, and all fleeing in 
fear and trembling, and listening for the 
dreaded war-whoop which they expected to 
brealc upon their ears at every moment, or 
the whip-like crack of the deadly rifle. 

The military organization was formed on 
Sunday, the 24th of August, and b}' the next 
day some thirty had joined, and a portion of 
them mounted upon such horses as they had. 

The following is preserved as the oath 
taken by the members of the "Irregulars," 
as the}' were termed, at the date of their 
muster, August 24, 1862: 

"We, the undersigned, do solemnly swear 
to bear true allegiance to the United States 
and the State of Minnesota, and the officers 
which ma}' be elected or appointed over us, 
to the best of our ability, in accordance with 
tlie captain's commission issued to G. C. 
Whitcomb, by Col. H. H. Sil)ley, bearing 
date August 20, 1862." 

The forty-four muskets brought by Cap- 
tain Whitcomb were then issued to as manv 



men, and the balance either left unarmed or 
given some Belgian muskets which had been 
procured for a militia company organized by 
G. C. Whitcomb and J. B. Atkmson some 
time before, or the few shotguns that could 
be found in the settlement. As it was neces- 
sary for their efficiency that they should be 
all mounted in order to cope with the 
mounted Indians, and as they only had about 
fifteen horses in all, a detail was made from 
the command to proceed to Kingston and 
make a forced levy of all the horses that they 
could find there for the use of the company. 
The detail consisted of sergeants William 
Branham and II. S. Howe, corporals A. F. 
Heath, H. J. Hill, T. C. Jewett, Samuel 
ITutchins and R. B. Ralston, and privates O. 
B. Todd, G. W. AVaggoner, Michael McGraw, 
F. G. Gould, A. II. Hamilton, H. Kruger 
and D. McGraw, and was under the com- 
mand of Lieut. J. B. Atkinson. They ad- 
vanced to Kingston, and the lev}' made of 
about forty horses, much against the wishes 
of the people in that place, and desjiite their 
vehement protests, and returned to head- 
quarters of the company at Forest City. At 
the same time a detail, consisting of B. Cobb, 
D. P. De Lamater, J. A. Stanton and Oliver 
Gibbins, to procure forage for the animals, 
and W. H. Towler and Gottlieb Reef as stock 
guard. These were citizens who volunteered 
for this duty. 

On the dawning of Monday morning, 
August 25th, a portion of the company, num- 
bering some twenty seven, rank and file, 
were ordered on a reconnoisance into Monon- 
galia county, now a part of Kandiyohi, and 
swept through the country for some forty 
miles distant from headquarters, and returned 
on the 27th, having seen none of the enemy, 
but had found traces of them in the corpses 
of nine or ten mutilated, murdered settlers, 
ruins of burned houses, and a considerable 
number of dead domestic animals scattered 
over the countrv. The bodies of the dead 



542 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



settlers were given decent buriiil l)y the party 
before their departure. 

On "Wednesday, August 2()th, eleven citi- 
zens of Manannah, wlio were staying at 
Forest City, iinding that there was a great 
lack of stoves, bedding, provisions, etc., in 
that place, volunteered to go to their homes 
and procure the necessaries. They were 
Linus Howe, Moody Caswell, Chauncy "Wil- 
son, Thomas Ryckman, David Hoar, James 
Nelson, "Wilmot Maybee, Philip H. Deck, 
Nathan C. Caswell, R. D. C. Cressy and 
Joseph Page. They started, and on their 
arrival at the house of "Wilmot Maybee 
stopped and got tlieir dinner, and from there 
proceeded to the house of Carlos Caswell, at 
Manannah, and, seeing no Indians about, left 
one yoke of their oxen there, intending to 
return thither that evening and spend the 
night there. They went on about two miles 
further to the residences of Silas Caswell and 
James Nelson, where they loaded Maybee's 
wagon full of bedding, provisions, etc., and 
the latter gentleman, who was driving, ac- 
companied by Joseph Page, turned the team 
toward their last stopping-place, where they 
intended to camp. They were closely fol- 
lowed by P. II. Deck and Linus Howe in 
the former's one-hoi-se wagon, which was 
filled with James Nelson's household goods, 
the rest of the party being employed in gath- 
erinjr the scattered farm stock about them. 
As they turned into Carlos Caswell's door- 
yard the sharp crack of several rifles rang 
out upon the air, from behind a pile of lum- 
ber and the weeds by the fence, and Joseph 
Page fell dead to the ground. The others 
turned east to escape, and drove for about 
fifteen or eighteen rods, when again the 
deadly rifle spoke and carried death to Deck 
and Howe. Wilmot Maybee, thinking to 
escape, run his horses for about thirty or 
forty rods further, breaking down a stout 
pair of bars in his way, but, on being cut off 
in his retreat by the savages, leaped to the 



gi-ound, and, leaving the horses and wagon 
to their fate, I'an about a hundred and fifty 
yards toward the river, but was shot and in- 
stantly killed by a well-aimed charge of 
buckshot from an Indian musket. 

Chauncy "Wilson and Thomas Kyckman 
were but a short distance away, and witnessed 
the cold-blooded murder of their comrades, 
but could offer no assistance, as they had 
placed their arms, such was their fancied se- 
curity, in one of the wagons. After securing 
the teams and their loads, the Sioux, a band 
of about ten or twelve, started toward the 
west, and passed within thirty rods of H. C. 
Caswell and James Nelson, who let them go 
by without firing a shot as they mistook 
them for white men, the shades of evening- 
having descended upon the earth. They 
followed the warriors, still thinking they 
were their friends, for some distance. The 
party returned to Forest City, having lost 
four of their best men. Mr. Howe was one 
of the county commissioners at the time, 
and has served for three years in that office. 
Lieut. J. B. Atkinson set out the next 
morning with some twenty-four men to bury 
the murdered settlers and bring in anything 
that he could find, which mission he accom- 
plished without any molestation. On the 
SOth of the month, a detail of twenty-four 
men was ordered to move to Hutchinson to 
procure the government arms left there, but 
found on their arrival at that ]ilace that the 
citizens of the town would not surrender the 
sruns, so returned the next tlav to headiruar- 
ters. On the 1st of Se]itember, a i-cport 
having gained currency in Forest City, orig- 
inating with Andrew Nelson, that the family 
of that gentleman's brother-in-law. Swan 
Swanson, was on an island in Foot Lake, 
Kandiyohi county, in destitute circumstances, 
a detail of some seventeen men, sup])lemented 
by some volunteer citizens, was dispatched 
to their aid. The little force took up their 
line <it' march, liound on their errand of 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



543 



mercy, but on their arrival at the farm of 
Peter J. Lund, on section 4, Acton township, 
found a body of Indians, who, having on 
white shirts, they at first mistook for white 
men. They were soon undeceived and shots 
were exchanged for a few minutes, when the 
savages retreated to the woods, probably to 
attempt to draw their opponents into an 
ambush. They did not succeed in this, the 
little company proceeding to the house, where 
they found plenty of evidence of the pres- 
ence of savages there in the shape of pipes, 
moccasins, old powder-horns, etc., and also 
found hanging upon a woodland crane a 
large iron kettle filled with hot water, the 
Sioux having been surprised while preparing 
to scald the body of a pig that lay butchered 
near by. Two of the savages were killed in 
this skii'mish, and one of the settlers, Samuel 
Hutchins, was wounded in the thigh by a 
rifle ball. 

Early on the morning of the 2d of Sep- 
tember, a squad of twenty of the members 
of the military company, and a like number 
of volunteer citizens, started again to look 
for the same family. At noon they camped 
for dinner at the fence which surrounded 
the farm of How^ard Peterson, and fed their 
horses with the oats inside of the fence. 
Some of the party conceiving that the pork 
and bread was not good to eat, in fact that 
it smelt bad, began to look around for other 
food. Peter E. Hansen, Nels Elofson and 
Mr. Larson started across the country to a 
farm, where Mr. Hansen, who was well 
acquainted with the country, knew there was 
a melon patch. This was about half a mile 
from the camp, on the brow of a hill. After 
getting their arms full of melons, Mr. Han- 
sen, leaving his two comrades, went to the 
top of a neighboring hill, the highest in that 
vicinity, and, looking off toward the Acton 
timber, espied fifteen or sixteen Lidians, 
some two or three miles off. They were 
mounted men. and, as it was known that 



there were no such number of whites in that 
direction, it was natural to suppose them 
Indians. Calling to Jesse V. Branham, Jr., 
and his brother, William Branham, to come 
to him, for they had followed after Mr. 
Hansen's party, they were looking at the 
horsemen, who soon disappeared, when turn- 
ing round discovered, to their surprise and 
horror, a band of some 300 Sioux Indians, 
more or less, within a distance of 200 yards 
of them, all on foot, but well armed. They 
did not linger long in that perilous position, 
but fled with due precipitation to the camp, 
pursued by the yelling fiends, who thirsted 
for their scalps. Hastily hitching up their 
teams, the whole posse beat a hasty retreat, 
the savages hanging on their rear, firing 
steadily all the time. A halt was soon called 
as the rout was growing more disorderly, 
and the march resumed wnth more steadi- 
ness. In crossing a slough, one of the teams 
belonging to J. B. Atkinson, but driven by 
E. O. Britt, became mired, alid, leaving the 
wagon and one horse that could not be 
extricated in the excitement in the mud, the 
little command pushed on for Forest City, 
pursued by some of the Indians, the rest hav- 
ing stopped at the wagon in the slough. 
Although man}' of the men wanted to fall 
out of the ranks and ambush their pursuers, 
who were keeping up a constant fusillade on 
them, the captain would not permit it. The 
command was met near Forest City by all 
the remaining men of that place, who had 
marched out to reinforce them, under the 
leadership of A. C. Smith, but their services 
were not called for, as the savages had given 
up the pursuit by this time. Considerable dis- 
pute has been had over the number of In- 
dians on this occasion, but, by a diligent 
search among the participants, it has been 
put at some 300 of active opponents, with 
man}' more in view. This is on the authority 
of nearly all the survivors of the little band, 
who would have been totally annihilated had 



544 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



they allowed tlieinselves to be surrounded, 
and the}' displayed great judgment in retir- 
ing, even if it were done hurriedly. In this 
skirmish, when the men were hastily mount- 
ing into the wagons, one of the muskets was 
accidentally discharged, and its contents 
Avounded O. B. Todd in the leg, barely miss- 
ing D. Cha])in, both of whom stood in the 
way of the ball. 

Col. B. F. Smith, the post commander 
at Fort Snelling, on the Sith of August, 
ordered Capt. Richard Strout, of the Tenth 
Minnesota Infantry, then in the course of 
organization, to take his company, after arm- 
ing and equipping them, to Forest City and 
that vicinity, for the assurance of safety for 
the settlers. The company, which had just 
been raised, was made up of'clerks, mechan- 
ics, etc., of Minneapolis and St. Paul, had 
as yet received little or no drilling, and 
were totally devoid of the army discipline 
that marks the soldier. They set out for 
the scene of hostilities and arrived at Forest 
City on the 27tli inst. He went into camp 
near the residence of A. C. Smith in that 
town, and gave it out that he should remain 
in that neighborhood for some time, but on 
being informed during the evening that 
nearly all the Indians in the vicinity were 
congregated at Swede Giove, about ten miles 
distant, the captain thought that his duty 
called him to a different point of vantage, 
and, therefore, the next uKjrning put his lit- 
tle column in motion for Glencoe. On his 
movements being reported at headquarters 
he was immediately ordered back to Meeker 
county, and, on reaching the township of 
Acton, went into camp in the yard of the 
murdered Jt>nes, an open spot surrounded 
by timber, in which lurked some two or 
three hundred savages, and it is claimed that 
he entirely failed to post any pickets. In 
this blind security he lay exposed to any 
attack that the enemy might make, and in 
almost a defenseless position. Thomas 



Chambers, of Hutchinson, having arrived in 
Forest City, antl mentioning the movements 
of Cajjtain Sti'out and his company, it was 
determined to intercept his column and bring 
it to Forest City direct, and, the disi)atch 
having been prei)ared, a volunteer force of 
three to carry it was asked, in response to 
which J. V. Branham, Jr., Albert Sperry and 
Thomas Holmes came forward and offered 
their services, which were accepted. As the 
summer sun was setting behind the western 
horizon, and flooding the land with its crim- 
son light, the three brave and gallant men 
put foot in the stirruj) and started on their 
lonel}', perilous ride. They started toward 
Eice City, with the intention of saving the 
command from running into the Indian 
camp at Swede Grove, which they were 
approaching so incautiously. 

They found, on reaching what was known 
as the Henderson trail, that Captain Strout 
and his men had passed that point, so they 
pushed on in the intense darkness, surrounded 
by peril, toward Acton, and found the com- 
man«i jieacefully sleeping, with no guard or 
picket set. The party at once communicated 
their tidings, and instantly the excitement 
grew intense. The Belgian muskets that 
the company had been ai-med with, for lack 
of better pieces, were overhauled, when it 
was discovered that most of the ammunition 
was of a different caliber from the guns, and 
would not fit, so the balance of the night 
was spent in preparing it for service in tlie 
best manner possible. As daylight dawned, 
and breakfast was being eaten, the firing of 
guns in their neighborhood alarmed all 
hands, as it was well known that there were 
no white men in that entire neighborhood. 
All made ready for the march to Hutchin- 
son, which was necessary for their safety, 
for it was plainly apparent that their camp 
was untenable against any force of Indians. 
The five mounted men rode ahead of the col- 
umn, wliicii marched in a southerlv direction 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



545 



for about two miles, when the glistening of 
gun-barrels through the foliage announced 
an ambush. This was upon a hill opposite 
Kelley's bluff, and our troops moved steadily 
on until they had arrived within half a mile 
of the enemy, and then halted. They were 
then formed in line of battle, and advanced 
until they were about two hundred yards 
from the savage foe, when they were saluted 
by a storm of bullets, which was bravely 
and promptly returned, and the firing thus 
commenced was ke]it up rapidly witli some 
effect. Our troops, who were formed in four 
sections, in open order, pressed on as skir- 
mishers toward the foe. Shortly after this 
a fresh body of mounted Indians were dis- 
covered in their rear, and, the two forces 
being united, and the lake Ijeing on the left 
of the company, the little body of soldiers 
were effectually surrounded. A charge in 
the direction of Ilutcliinson was ordered, 
and, the bayonets dropping to a level, the 
men bravely charged the red horde, who fell 
back, for the savage can not stand cold steel. 
Like many another battle, the troops were 
endangered by the misconduct of the team- 
sters, who, thinking that the road to the 
south was now opened, started on the run 
for Hutchinson, and their panic soon spread 
to the scarcely-disciplined soldiers, who had 
behaved so bravely but a few minutes before, 
and awa}^ they all went, pell-mell, after the 
teams. In a few minutes order was restored, 
and the retreat conducted in a more orderly 
manner. During this movement Jesse V. 
Branham, Jr., one of the scouts and messen- 
gers of the previous night, was seriously 
wounded, being shot under the shoulder 
blade, the ball passing through his lungs. 
Three men were killed in this engagement, 
and some eighteen wounded ; the latter 
were all brought fiom the field. The dead 
were afterward buried l>y the detail from 
the Third Regiment. On theii' arrival at 
Hutchinson the wounded were properly 



cared for, and the command obtained some 
rest. 

Early on the morning of the 3d of Septem- 
ber, the entire force, both of the Home 
Guards and the citizens of Forest City, 
finished the erection of a stockade for their 
defense, and labored hard and faithfully all 
that day. It was a parallelogram of 120 
feet square, and was made of a double row 
of logs on end, planted in the ground some 
three feet, and projecting upward some ten 
feet. Bastions on the corners and numerous 
loopholes through the timbers afforded ample 
means for sweeping down any assailants that 
attacked it, antl would shelter the marksmen 
from the bullets of the savages. Every one 
being turned out, the companj' were marched 
to the principal hotel of the place, where 
they were quartered, and all settled down 
to a peaceful slumber, and, with the excep- 
tion of the arnied guard, seemed totally ob- 
livious of the proximity of the savages. 

Between two and three o'clock in the 
morning, the sentinels discovered the ap- 
proach of a body of Indians and gave the 
alarm, at which the Sioux, with wild yells, 
charged forward and fired a volley at the 
hotel, where the troops were in quarters. 
These latter, sallying out with most of the 
citizens, retired to the stockade, but in their 
hurry forgot or neglected to take with them 
the horses or the bulk of the ammunition, 
the former being in J. B. Atkinson's stable 
and the powder and balls in the store of 
Judson A. Stanton. Within the palisaded en- 
closure stood a frame house and a well, and 
had they one-half the ammunition with them 
they could have held out for some time. But, 
not expecting the redskins so soon, they were 
taken by surprise, and in the excitement 
mueii was overlooked. No sooner had they 
reached the fort and been safely ensconced 
therein than the savages opened upon it with 
some forty or fifty rifles, for it was both a sur- 
prise and a disappointment to the red fiends 



546 



MEEKER COUNTY. MINNESOTA. 



to find the stockade built, for they never 
dreamed of such a thing and anticipated an 
easy victory. The intense darlcness of tiie 
niglit rendered aim veiy uncertain, so, to save 
tiieir ammunition, but very little tiring was 
done upon the part of the beleaguered gar- 
rison. Nels Elofson,a resident of tiie county, 
in speaking of that niglit says: that " the 
captain told him to be saving of his ammu- 
nition, as they had Ijut a small supply." He 
adds that " while one part of the savages, 
early in the morning, continued to harass the 
settlers within the enclosure, the others were 
employed in burning the buildings and hay- 
stacks, and in running otf the horses, oxen, 
wagons and other projierty." Most of the 
property burned was situated at a distance 
from the fort, for if an Indian stepped into 
the circle of light from a l)urning building, 
the leaden missives warned him that he was 
seen, and, if he did not drop, he hastily re- 
treated. Once the incendiaries approached 
the more central part of the village, but the 
torches in their hands betrayed them to the 
troops, and a discharge of their muskets laid 
some half a dozen upon the ground, and the 
rest fled. As the ligiit of day once more 
dawned upon the settlers, they found the 
most of the Indians had retired, while an 
Indian was perceived stealing out from be- 
hind the barn of J. B. Atkinson, and Thomas 
Grayson, who was an excellent shot, deter- 
mined to kill him. The distance was about 
three hundred yards, and in the gray light 
of early morn the savage stood sharj)ly out- 
lined against a Ijright background. Slowly 
the death -dealing rifle of the settler rose to 
bis shoulder, an instant, as he tightened his 
grip, as the aim became sure, the shar]), whip- 
like report rang out witii wondrous clear- 
ness, and the Indian threw up his hands with 
a yell and pitched to the ground. 

As the ligiit of day grew more briglit the 
beleaguered citizens and soldiers saw with 
delight that most of their savage foes had 



retired, while a small body of them were 
driving away some of the captured stock. 
A number of volunteers, among whom were 
Neis Elofson, Aslog Olson and William Eran- 
liam, made a charge upon the latter, when 
the Indians fled over the hills, but, wlien the 
))arty arrivetl at the brow of the eminence, 
they were fired upon from an ambush in the 
school-house, and Aslog Olson and William 
Branham were wounded. The settlers re- 
treated to the stockade, canying their crip- 
pled comrades with them, and some of the 
stock for which they had ventured their lives. 
A few days subsequently the command es- 
corted their wounded to Hutchinson to have 
their wounds dressed and be taken care of, 
and both recovered in time. 

On the ITtli of September, Caleb Sanborn, 
a settler in the neigh borhood of Cedar Lake, 
was murdered by the Indians, who were 
prowling around in that locality, murdered 
in cold blood, through a general hatred of 
the white race and being filled witli the 
malice and cruelty of the Evil One himself. 
The next day a party, consisting of Lewis 
Harrington, Daniel Cross, T. K. AY ebb, Silas 
Greene, Frank Jewett, David Hern and 
Nathaniel Pierce, left the town of Hutchin- 
son to get the body and to bury it decently. 
After their arrival north of the lake, while 
skirting the forest, tliev were startled bv the 
discharge of three rifles, and saw with dis- 
may one of their numlier, Daniel Cross, fall 
to the ground, movtally wounded. Five of 
the party jumped into tiieir wagon and left 
for a more secure place, whilst T. R. Webb 
found his way to a small boat in the lake 
and paddled for the island, where he s])ent 
the niglit. The next morning he escaped 
and reached Hutchinson, meeting on the way 
a iiosse of about fifty, who had started in 
search for the bodies of Cross and himself.. 
This party marched on to the scene of the 
ambush, and recovered the bodies of both 
Sanborn and Cross, and returned safely to 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



547 



their homes. It seems that it was discovered 
then that there were thirteen redskins in the 
body, who had fired on the little squad. 

On the 5th of September Lieut. William 
Byrnes, of the Tenth Minnesota Infantry, 
with a part of a company of that regiment, 
numbering some forty-five muskets, started 
to reinforce any troops that tlien might be 
in Meeker county, and took up their quar- 
ters at Kingston, turning the storehouse of 
Hall & Co., of that place, into a barrack for 
his men. This he strengthened by means 
of earthworks, and during the same time car- 
ried on scouting expeditions all over the 
vicinity. Ca])tain Pettit, of tiie Eiglith Min- 
nesota Infantry, with liis company, had rein- 
forced Captain "Whitcomb's command at For- 
est City, and Avas there on the reappearance 
of tlie Sioux on the 22d of September. Word 
that day was brought to tlie county seat that 
the red fiends were again committing out- 
rages, this time at Lake Ri})ley (now Litch- 
field), and Captain Pettit asked the coopera- 
tion of his comrade. Lieutenant Lymes, in a 
movement to the neighborhood of the hos- 
tiles. The next morning the latter sallied 
out with some thii"ty-six men, and, uniting 
his command with that of Captain Pettit, 
who had eightA'-seven, and five of Captain 
Wliitcomb's mounted rangers as guides, 
started for Lake Kipley. On their arrival 
they found the body of poor Olson, the black- 
smith mentioned in tiie first part of this arti- 
cle, lie had been shot three times through 
the body and once through the hand, was 
scalped, his brains beaten out, his throat cut 
fi'om ear to ear, and his tongue cut out by 
the roots. 

After burving the dead and picking up 
three women who had been hiding several 
days in the woods, and sending them on to 
Forest City, an extended reconnoissance was 
made toward Diamond Lake, in Monongalia 
county, through a deserted country, covered 
with the ruins of tlie settlers' cabins and 



wantonly-killed stock. On the morning of 
the 25th, while on their return to Forest 
City, they surprised a party of Indians with 
some stock, which the}' took in charge, the 
Sioux fleeing on catching sight of them. 

On the 23d of September, Capt. Eichard 
Strout, having sent out a party to scout 
around, was alarmed by the report of the little 
band who returned with the information that 
they had had a skirmish with the enemy at 
Greenleaf. and one of their number slain. 
Other parties of scouts came in with the 
information of having seen pai-ties of red- 
skins, who seemed to have flocked here in 
great numbers. 

From this time on the country was safe, 
for troops, having been organized, now came 
forward to fill the places held by the Irregu- 
lars, and calm settled down on the land. Still 
the strained nerves of the citizens would 
vibrate at the slightest sound, and they saw 
and heard an Indian in every suspicious noise 
or movement. 

We now come to the concluding phase of 
this tragedy, the death of Little Crow, the 
prime instigator of the conspiracy, with 
whose demise, and the hanging of the thirty- 
eight at Mankato, terminated the terrible 
massacre of 1802. 

On the 1st of July, 1863, nearly ten 
months after the first blow was struck, James 
McGannon was killed between Kingston and 
Fair Haven, bj^ some Indian, said to have 
been Little Crow. On Friday, July 3d, follow- 
ing, Mr. Lampson and his son Chauncy were 
out hunting and suddenly came in sight of two 
Indians j^icking berries on section 30, Col- 
linwood township, on a little prairie opening 
in the woods, interspersed with clumjis of 
bushes and a few poplar trees. These sav- 
ages were Sioux, and Avere Little Crow and 
his son Wowinapa. !Mr. Lam])son and his 
son crept up within gunshot, and lieing the 
best shot took aim at Little Crow, his son 
covering the bov, who was about sixteen 



548 



MEEKER COUNTY, MlNNESOl^A. 



years old. Two reports rang out upon tlie 
still air, and the Indian cliief fell to the 
ground, hit just above the hip. He, how- 
ever, snatched up his gun and tired it and 


section 20, Litchfield township, bears the fol- 
lowing inscriptions, and was erected by the 
State, in 1878: 

SOUTH SIDE. 


his son's piece in the direction wiiere the 
curling smoke betrayed the presence of the 
enemy, but another report came from the 
settlers gun and tlic ball hit the savage in 




IK MEMORY OF TIIE FIRST 

FIVE VICTIMS OF 

THE (lUEAT INDIAN M.\SS.\CRE IN 1863, 

AND 

BURIED HERE IN ONE GRAVE. 




the side and lie fell over. After asking his 
son for water, which was given him, he ex- 




WEST SIDE. 




pired. The son, wiio iuid on the clothes of 
the murdered McGannon, escai)ed, anil after 
wandei'ing around was Knally captured some 
twenty -six days after in the neighborhood of 




ROBINSON JONES, 
VIRANUS WEBSTER, 
HOWARD BAKER, 
ANN BAKER, 
CL.\RA D. WILSON. 




Big Stone Lake. 

During the eventful year there were killed 




EAST SIDE. 




by the red fiends, of the settlers in Meeker 
county, the following twelve persons: Rob- 
inson Jones, Mrs. Ann i'akcr, Viranus Web- 
ster, Clara D. Wilson, Philip Deck, Joseph 




"FIRST BLOOD." 




Page, Lmus Howe, VVumot May bee, JNels 
Olsen, Caleb Sanborn, Daniel Cross and 




NOETH SIDE. 




Thomas McGannon. To the tirst five vic- 
tims of the murderous Sioux there has been 
erected a monument by the State, commem- 
orative of the beginning of the fearful out- 




ERECTED BY THE STATE, IN 1878, 

UNDER THE DniECTION OF 

THE 

MEEKER CO. OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION. 


« 


break that deluged this fair land with blood 
and fire. Besides the soldiers who lost their 
lives in this county, of whom tiiere is no per- 
sonal record, two Swedes were slain within 
the limits of Acton, as they were fleeing 
thitlier for safety. Their names were Lorin- 
son and Backlin, wiio had settled at Eagle 
Lake, Kandiyohi county, but had left there 
with a train of fleeing citizens and were over- 
taken just this side of the county line and 
murdered. One of them had a number of 
butcher knives sticking iu his body when 
found. 

The monument, whicii stands in the Ness 
No)'wegian Lutheran Churcii cemetery, on 


The personal experiences of the settlers of 
this and the adjacent counties during the 
exciting times of the outbreak and massacre 
are given in detail in their sketches in the 
biographical depiirtment of this work, to 
which tiie reader is referred. The subject is 
one of great interest to ever}' one, and, as the 
data from wiiicii these narratives are written 
are taken down from the participants them- 
selves, strotigly portray the trials and jierils 
endured by the jiioneers of this region. 
Stamped with the plain accents of truth, 
these }>ei'sonal biogra})liies make up the full 
history of tliese perilous times, and finish out 
the tale of woe, of life upon the border, in 
the fateful year 1862. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



549 



Before dismissing this tragic episode in the 
history of Mealier county, at the desire of 
many of the survivors of those fearful days, 
it is proper to say that the prompt and 
hearty aid accorded to the imperiled settlers 
by Gov. Alexander Eamsey, has won 
him a place in their esteem and affection 
that is undying, and the mention of his 
honored name touches a chord in the breasts 



of the participants in the Indian war that 
vibrates with gratitude for his noble actions 
and efficient work at that time. A truly 
respected and beloved inan in this com- 
munity, he needs no monument to recall him 
to the children's children of the old settlers 
of Meeker county ; their regard has built up 
one in their hearts that is more 
than stone or bronze. 



enduring 




8E!' 



TO\VNS 




L. 



ISTOI^IK^, 



■•• ♦♦♦»♦»♦»♦♦♦»♦»♦♦■ 




* 



CHAPTER VIII. 

FOREST CITY TOWNSHIP. 

[fvV^HE subdivision of the 
count\' which ))eavs the 
above name is one of tlie 
oldest settled and one 
of the most pictur- 
esquely beautiful. It 
embraces what is techni- 
callv known as congressional 
township 120, north of range 
30 west, and contains 22,- 
84G.87 acres in all, only 
88-1-.37 of which are covered 
with water of any descrip- 
tion. It is for the most part 
extremely fertile, and the 
timber which covers a por- 
tion of the territory is of 
the finest character. 

It was upon tlie shores of the north branch 
of the Crow River, that meanders through 
the emerald prairies and leafy groves of this 
town, that John lluy and Thomas H. Skin- 
ner, the first settlers of the county, passed the 
lonesome and dreary winter of 1855, as related 
in the history of the early settlement of the 
county, in a former portion of this volume. 
I). M. Hanson, a talented young lawyer of 




Minneapolis, and Rudolph Shultz had come 
here with Iluy and Skinner, but on the ap- 
proach of winter returned to the " Flour 
City," where Hanson died the following 
April. Shultz returned to this county in the 
spring, and took up a claim in what is now 
Harvey township. 

With the advent of the new year of 1856 
came new settlers, the first to ari'ive l)eing 
])ossibl3' Milton G. Moore and Elijah IJemis. 
The exact date of their arrival can not be 
ascertained at the present moment, but the 
former was ajipointed register of deeds and 
the latter sheriff at the time of the organiza- 
tion of the county, that same spring. Nei- 
ther of them remained long, both leaving 
the county a few years after their settle- 
ment, probably in 1858. 

During the year 1856, others made settle- 
ments in the township, among whom were 
the following named, some of whom still 
live here, some have moved away, while still 
another poi'tion have passed to their reward 
beyond the grave : 

Jose])h Weymer, Sr., Jacob Weymer, T. 
Carlos Jewett, Samuel anil Dudley Taylor, 
Isaac C. Delamater, David Mitchell, Wait H. 
Dart, Charles E. Cutts, Walter Bacon, Lean- 
der L. AVakelield, John Whalen, John A. 
Quick, James Bramhall, Mathew Miles Stan- 
dish, John W. Johnson, Charles McAron, 



550 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



551 



John Patterson, lleniy Clinton, LoringHuy, 
Ogden T. Tuttle, AV. H. Vaness, John Kim- 
ball, Edward Fitzgerald, J. W. Griswold, 
Jndson A. Stanton, Harrison G. O. Thorns, 
Charles N. Shed, Rev. John Eobson, John 
Flynn, John Wigle and Wyman Evan. 

Most of these first settlers took up claims 
and commenced to improve their land, erect- 
ing log cabins in which to live. Their near- 
est market being St. Paul, they were, of a 
necessity, compelled to deprive themselves 
of all the comforts and conveniences of life, 
but game was in abundance in these pristine 
wilds, and they did not suffer from hunger 
at least. 

The year 18.57 witnessed a still furtiier in- 
flux of settlers into this township, prominent 
among whom were the following : Milton 
Gorton, John Sullivan, John Murray, James 
B'. Atlcinson, Jacob Knapp, Jacob Ball, 
James "Willis, John Heath, A. F. Heath, L. 
F. Haines, Isaac Perrine, Allen Teachout, 
H. N. Baker, H. M. Angier, William Rich- 
ards, W. W. Woodman, Hamlet Stevens, 
A. B. Hoyt, G. M. Blandin, H. Walker, B. 
F. Butler, Thomas Grayson, D. P. Dela- 
mater, Charles and William Willis, ]^. O. 
Griffin, Michael Lenhart and W. S. Chap- 
man. Many' of those, also, have left the 
county, but a few are still residents, either of 
the farms upon which the}^ settled or in the 
village of Litchfield. 

The hard times that followed the financial 
crisis of 1857 had a discouraging effect upon 
all emigration, and the tide of settlers flow- 
ing into Meeker county was not so strong dur- 
ing the year 1858 as might have been expected. 
Still there were a few that came to Forest 
City township, and made settlements that 
year. Among them were : Sylvester Stevens, 
Charles McPartheon. L. W. Henry, Patrick 
Finnegan, Rev. J. C. Whitney, R. AV. Brown, 
U. S. Willie, a lawyer ; George S. Sholes Sr., 
George S. Sholes Jr., J. A. Baird, Thomas 
E. Masse}^ A. C. Smith; John D. Evans, 



Charles and Samuel Getchell, E. K. AVright, 
James Merrill, Levi Getchell, F. M. Scott, 
Dennis Cronin, G. AV. Parker, and N. W. 
Bannister. But few came here after this, 
until al)out the close of the war, and the 
condition of the country was more settled. 
The terrible outbreak and Indian massacre 
of 1862, a history in detail of which has 
been given in an earlier portion of this work, 
not only caused the cessation of settlement 
in this portion of the State, but nearly all 
that were here left to seek secure quarters 
for their families. Some never returned and 
others only after considerable absence. 
During the year 18(33, there were but few, 
if any, new settlers to locate in this town, 
and the population was much reduced in 
number, both by the people leaving and by 
the manv men being absent with the Union 



armies. 



FiftST ITEMS. 



The first birth was that of Sarah Jane 
Dougherty, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
Thomas Dougherty, who was born here 
while her parents were camped Julj' 15, 
1856. The first birth among the settlers of 
this township was that of a son to John 
Whalen, born in the early part of 1857. 

The first death was that of Frank Parsons, 
a young man, who died November 12, 1856, 
and was buried on the town site. 

The first religious services were held by 
Rev. John Robson, a Methodist minister, in 
November, 1856. 

The first steam saw-mill was put up by 
John Robson, near the village, in 1858. 

The first school-house was built in 1857, 
on section 17, and the first teacher was T. 
Carlos Jewett. 

FOREST CITY VILLAGE. 

The village of Forest City was originally 
laid out by Stand ish and Moore, surveyors, 
in the summer of 1857, for the proprietors, 
T. H. Skinner, AV. S. Chapman, J. AV. Huy, 



552 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIXXESOTA. 



A. M. Fi-idlev, A. Juclvson Ucll, and E. E. 
Wilson. Tliisplat is described as covering the 
northeast (juarter of section IT, and the 
northeast (luarter of section 2(i, and was 
filed for record August 13, 1857. For some 
reason this was replatted, and other territory 
added in the latter part of 1858. The plat 
was tiled for record ]\[arch 23, 1859, and 
covered the south half of section 17 and 
the west half of the northwest quarter of 
section 21. The ]iroprictors are desci'ibed 
officially to have l^een W. P. Curtis, of Hen- 
nepin county, and Thomas 11. Skinner, pres- 
ident of the Forest City Company. To this 
nines, Kimball and Beedy laid out an addi- 
tion on the northeast quarter of section 17, 
in September, 1871, the plat being filed on 
the 6th of that month. 

Dudley Taylor and his wife had a large 
log building put uj), in which they kept the 
first hotel in the village and in the county. 
A few other cabins were put up by the few 
settlers here, and thus the county seat was 
commenced. 

Early in the spring of 1857, James B. Atkin- 
son came to the village with a load of goods, 
and putting up a building, about the 1st of 
March of that year opened a general stock 
of gooils. This was the first store in the 
township, and in the county. This estab- 
lishment he presided over until the summer 
of 1802, when he took in as partner, Mark 
W. Piper, who ran it while Captain Atkin- 
son was fifihtino' in defense of his country. 
In 1866, Piper sold out to Atkinson, he hav- 
ing acquired sole possession, and the latter 
gentleman ran the store until 1879, when it 
was closed out. 

The second store was opened in the village 
in 1858, b)' Fitch & Stanton, who ran it 
until the time of the Indian outbreak, when 
the goods were removed to a safer place by 
their owner. 

Others in trade after this were : Thomas II. 
Skinner, who started in 1862, who afterwaid 



sold ittoChauncey Dart ; Campbell & Flynn, 
Wait H. Dart, Jesse V. Bi-anham, Sr., Ilines, 
Kimball & Beedy, O. C. McGray, C. D. 
Boom, Brost & liodgers, William Hardy, 
Frank McCumber, William Knight and 
Nicholas Schreiner. 

J. A. Baird established a lirickyard herein 
1858, and made the fii'st brick in the county, 
liut, finding but little chance for his business 
at that tune, returned to Minneapolis the 
same year. 

On 'the 22d of March, 1858, the United 
States land office, which had been located 
here, arrived at Forest City, and with it came 
John D. Evans, receiver, and A. C. Smith, 
register. Both of these men were afterward 
prominently identified with the growth of 
the place, and the institution over which they 
presided had a great influence in giving an 
ini|)etus to the settlement of the county. 

A postoffice was established in the fall of 
1856, with Walter C. Bacon as postmaster, 
and in the spring of 1857 he was succeeded 
by James B. Atkinson. In turn this posi- 
tit« Avas held by the following named gentle- 
men : AVilliam IJichards, J. A. Stanton, C. 
F. Woodman, O. C. SIcGray, Benjamin Man- 
ter, William Hardy and others. Nicholas 
Schreiner is the pi-esent incumbent. 

W. S. Chapman brought with him and 
erected the saw-mill, and, in company with 
others, operated it for a short time, when it 
was sold to John Bobson. After a little 
time it was again disposed of and removed to 
Bear Lake. 

The Forest City flouring-mill was erected 
in 1865, by Hines, Kimball ife Beedy, and 
was operated by that firm for several years. 
N. C. Ilines then sold out to his partners, 
and the\' ran it untd a few years ago, when, 
becoming linancially embarrassed, it passed 
into the hands of Stout, Mills i*e Temple, of 
Dayton, Ohio, and was ojierated for them by 
William Hilderbrandt, until May, 1888, when 
it was purchased by a Minneapolis party. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



553 



Forest City Lodge, No. 70, A. F. & A. M., 
the oldest lodge of an^^ kind in the county, 
was organized under dispensation, May 18, 
1867, with the following list of charter mem- 
bers and officers : A. C. Smith, W. M. ; J. B. 
Atkinson, S. W. ; T. Carlos Jewett, J. W. ; 
H. G. 0. Thorns, tyler; George W. AVeisel, 
Sylvester Stevens, John S. Shields, Jesse S. 
Hippie, and Perry D. Bentley. The charter 
granted the lodge was dated November 11, 
1869. The lirst officers under this were as 
follows: A. C. Smith, W. M.; G. AV.AVeisel, 
S. W. ; T. C. Jewett, J. W. ; M. W. Piper, 
T. ; J. AA^ McKean, S. ; S. B. Ilutchins, S. 
D. ; E. A. Campbell, J. D. ; and A. G. Peters, 
t^der. A. C. Smith was his own successor 
in the otfice of worshipful master, until the 
dissolution of the lodge, December 23, 1871, 
caused by the removal of most of the mem- 
bers to the rising village of Litchfield. 

The Methodist Church was oi'ganized in 
the old school-house, in 18.57, althougii there 
had been services held here ]ireviously. Rev. 
Tiiomas Ilarwood was tlie first pastor. Serv- 
ices wei'e held in pi'ivate houses, school- 
houses, or where occasion offered, until 1869, 
when, with the removal of most of the mem- 
bers to Litchfield, the church was moved to 
that village. 

The Baptists have an oi'gauization in the 
village at the pi-esent, and have a neat and 
tasty church edifice built in 1879. 

On the 19th of September, 1857, pursuant 
to a notice given, the people of this town 
met at the house of AVarren AV. AVoodman, 
to take some action toward building a school- 
house. Mr. AVoodman was made chairman, 
and J. AV". Griswold, secretary. After some 
remarks by John Robson and AVilliam 
Richards, a committee, consisting of C. E. 
Cutis, John Robson and J. A. Stanton, was 
appointed to see how much money could be 
raised for the purpose. The committee 
reported that the sum of $205 could be raised 
for a church, or $130 for a school-house, and 



on putting the nuxtter to a vote, five pre- 
ferred a church, and six a school-house. A 
committee was then appointed, consisting of 

C. E. Cutts, John Robson, T. C. Jewett and 
J. A. Stanton, to collect subscriptions. At 
a meeting held a week later, the committee 
reported that the following gentlemen had 
agreed to contribute toward the matter : 
John Robson, J. AV. Griswold, AV. Richards, 

D. P. Delamatei', J. B. Atkinson, A. B. 
Hoyt, Jacob Ball, John AVigle, David Bal- 
stor, C. E. Cutts, IL AValker, T. H. Skinner, 
John Kimball, Thomas Gra3'son, James Pat- 
terson, H. G. O. Thoms, Allen Teachout, 
John Flynn, Milton Gorton, J. A. Stanton, 
B. F. Butler, T. C. Jewett, and A. AV. 
Angier. 

A\^. AV. AVoodman entered into a contract 
to ])ut up the Ijuildiug for $250, and it was 
finislied tluit same fall. This was the first 
school in the town. 



'S^{^--»- 



CHAPTER IX. 



TOWNSHIP OF MANATSTNAH. 




^HE subdivision of the county 
known by the above name em- 
bi-aces all of Congressional town- 
ship 121, north of range 31 west, and con- 
tains 25,393 acres ; only 31.31 are covered 
by water. There is more available land in 
the town than in any other, were it denuded 
of the heavy timber that covers a large por- 
tion of its territory. The beauty of its scen- 
ery attracted the attention of its earliest set- 
tlers, and it has not lost an}' of its attractive- 
ness by the lapse of years. The rich farms 
and clearings among the primeval forests 
have a charm peculiarly their own, and are 
found in abundance. South of the river the 
land is chiefly pi'airie, interspersed with 
groves of timber. 

Tlie pioneer settlers in this town Avere 



554 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Nathan C. Caswell. Zil)a Caswell, Alonzo M. 
Caswell, Edward I5rown, Silas Caswell and 
A. D. Pierce, who came here in 1S5G, as 
already detailed in the history of the early 
settlement of the county. Tliey put up their 
cabins, the first in the town, around the town- 
site of the village. 

The same fall tiiere came to the little set- 
tlement John Tower, Carlos Caswell, An- 
drew Hamilton, J. W. Walker, Moody Bailey 
and Moody Caswell. 

Among the settlers of the year 1S57 were 
the following named : Jonathan Kimball, 
Linus Howe, Mark Bridges, Freeman T. 
Gould. E. B. Kingsley. C. O. Whitney, David 
Dustin. J. J. Baston, John Setter, G. W. 
Lamb, Ilol)ert Lyon, W. D. Magill, Thomas 
Faloon, Porter Loveless, Eobert Lang, Henry 
Fleming, Henry Harrideen, Ephraim Pier- 
son, Charles ]\rayl)ee, Wilmot Maybee, James 
Shearer, Alexander Lee, R. D. C. Cressy, 
John Adcock, Henry Whitman, J. Hubbard, 
J. Marden, J. C. Hollis, S. Sterrett, James 
Lang, E. O. Britt and Chauncey Wilson. 

The financial crisis that convulsed our 
country in 1857 put a stop to all settlement 
here as elsewhere, and but a few are found to 
have located here in 1858. Among these, 
however, were Samuel Clyde, Michael 
O'Keefe and Rol^ert Carroll. 

Joseph Page and Philip Deck, who were 
killed during the massacre days, settled here 
in 1860. 

The first birth in tiie town was that of Hat- 
tie Estelle Kiinl)all, which occurred in 1857. 

The first death was that of Samuel Clyde, 
who was called hence in 1851*. 

The first school was held in district No. 
12, in 1866, and Patrick McNulty was the 
pioneer teacher. 

The first ground was broken by the Cas- 
wells. May 4, 1857. 

The first religious services were held by 
Rev. Mr. Kidder, a Methodist clergyman, at 
the old village of Manannah, in 1859. 



The first mass of the Roman Catholic 
Church was celebrated by Father Anthony, 
of St. Cloud, in 1865, at the house of Frank 
Mclntyre. 

]\Ianannah was oi-ganized at an election 
held at the house of J. W. Walker, October 
13, 1S57, at which the following officers 
were chosen : N. C. Caswell, assessor ; J. W.' 
Walker and E. B. Kingsley, justices; Nathan 
Caswell and Mark Bridges, constables, and 
Ziba Caswell, road overseer. At this elec- 
tion J. W. Goodspeed, A. D. Pierce and J. 
Kimball were judges, and J. C. Llollis and 
Freeman Gould, clerks. 

The present (1888) officers of the town are 
as follows : Supervisors : Jacob Hammus, 
chairman ; Menus O'Keefe, Jr., and James 
Fitzpatrick. Clerk: C. J. O'Brien. Treas- 
urer : N. C. Caswell. Assessor : P. Enright, 
Jr. Justices of the peace : Richard O'Brien 
and O. H. Campbell. Constable: Henry 
Hukreide. 

A name was wanted for the village which 
was laid out by J. W. Walker and Ziba Cas- 
well, on part of section 30, in the spring of 
1856, and search in an old Scottish history 
gave them the name of Manannah, so it was 
adopted. The partj' who made the survey 
and platted the village was a man by the 
name of ILalcott, and N. C. Caswell acted as 
chain bearer. 

A postolfice was established in the new 
village in 1857, with Jonathan Kimball as 
postmaster ; this has been presided over, in 
turn, by Carlos Caswell, Ziba Caswell and 
James Lang. The latter is the jiresent in- 
cumbent of the office. 

On the4:th of March, 1857, Ziba, Nathan 
C. and Alljert Caswell commenced the erec- 
tion of a hewn log building lSx2t! feet in 
size,- one story and a half high, in which, the 
following ^Fay, Jonathan Kimball opened a 
hotel. This building was used as a stockade 
during the Indian outbreak, as detailed else- 
where, but is now a thing of the past. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



555 



In May, 1857, J. W. Walker opened a store 
in a hewn log building he had erected, which 
was the first and only one in the village. 

In the same spring "Walker put in the dam 
and the following fall put up the saw-mill. 
This stood there until after 1862, when it 
burned down. 

Of the old village, nothing remains, its 
glory having long since departed, and grow- 
ing crops cover the site of the place that was 
hoped would be the principal place in the 
count}^ 

MANANNAH VILLAGE. 

The present village of Manannah was laid 
out in ISTl, by Ilines, Kimball & Beed\', and 
the ]ilat filed for record September 6, 1871. 
Cressy's addition was platted by E. D. C. 
Cressy, and filed for record November 16, 
187-1. It occupies a small part of sections 30 
and 31. 

In 1869, Ziba Caswell put in a dam at this 
place, which partly went out the following 
spring. In 1871, Ziba Caswell erected a 
store building and opened a general stock of 
goods. He was succeeded in this stand by 
N. C. Hines, and he, in turn, by Hardy & 
Boone, Boone & Mitchell, O. B. Webb, Hines 
& Campbell, O. H. Campbell, Gray & Lang, 
Haines Bros., Con O'Brien, T. Kerry, Staples 
Bros., and by the present owner, C. A. 
Staples. 

Another store Avas built in 1872, and run 
as a furniture depot l)y T. P. Murray until 
1874, when James Lang purchased it and 
opened his present general merchandise 
business. 

The hotel was run for a time in 1871 as a 
boarding house by N. C. Hines, but the next 
year it was opened as a hotel by S. H. Cas- 
well. He was succeeded by James Lee, he 
b\' Jerome Haight, and then it passed into 
the hands of the present proprietor, James 
Lang. 

At one time there was a tidrd store kept 



by Haight Bros., who were succeeded by E. 
A. Price, and finally was abandoned. 

The flouring-mill was erected in 1872, by 
Hines, Kimball & Beedy, and Avas operated 
by N, C. Ilines until 1874. He then formed 
a partnership with 0. H. Campbell, and it 
was run under the firm name of Hines & 
Campbell. The next proprietors were Camp- 
bell & Caswell, Avho were succeeded O. H. 
Campbell, the present owner and opera- 
tor. He has largely addetl to it, changing 
it to the I'oller system, putting in eight sets 
of rolls, with all the other machinery, and a 
fine sixty-horse power engine, and it is now 
one of the finest mills in the county. The 
main structure is 50x40 feet in size, with an 
addition 12x40 feet, besides the engine room. 
Its daily capacity is 100 barrels. 

There is a fine graded school building now 
in course of construction, Avhicli is 24x40 
feet in size, two stories in height. 

The saw-mill which once stood here was 
built by Ilines. Kimball & Beedy in 1871. 

The Catholic Church of Our Lady, at Ma- 
nannah, was established by the late Rev. John 
McDermott, of Darwin, in the year 1876, 
under wliose direction was built a portion of 
the present edifice. The ground on which 
the church stands was donated by Anthony 
Kelly, of Minneapolis. It is situated on the 
bank of the Crow river, on a lofty eminence. 
The church building was finished during the 
administration of Father Kinney,the parish 
then being united to that of Litchfield. On the 
removal of the latter, the church was attended 
by the present pastor. Father McDevitt, who 
resided at Litchfield, for one year. Seeing the 
utility of Manannah having a resident priest, 
a parochial residence Avas erected in the fall 
of 1885, at a cost of about 82,000. The 
parish, Avhicli is a separate one, contains 
about ninety-five families, and is in a flour- 
ishing condition. The church edifice is not 
yet completed, as the toAA-er is to be finished 
and a bell put up. The first Catholic priest 



556 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



that visited this )>art of the country was 
Fatlier Anthony, from the Benedictine 
Abbe3% in the diocese of St. Cloud in 1865 
The mission was visited occasional!}' by Father 
Burns, who also resided at St. John's Abbey, 
in St. Cloud. Father Arthur Hurley, of the 
diocese of St. Paul was appointed to look 
after the spiritual wants of the people, and 
visited tliem occasional!}', his residence being 
at Litchfield. This zealous priest had many 
missions to attend to and could visit each but 
seldom. After the removal of Father Hurley, 
Father Cahill served for some time with mark- 
ed success. The late and much lamented priest 
of Darwin, Father John McDermott, came 
next and under his wise and able adminis- 
tration the parisii increased rapidly. Father 
Kinney next took charge of the united par- 
ishes of Litchfield and Manannah, till his 
appointment to the Chui-ch of St. Stephen's, 
Minneapolis, in 1S85. Tlie present pastor 
then came to Litchfield and later to Manan- 
nah, as stated. The churcii corporation 
owns property to the amount of al)out 
$6,000. 

EDEN VALLEY VILLAGE. 

The village of Eden Valley, located on the 
Minneapolis & Pacific Railroad, on the west 
half of the northwest quarter of the north- 
west quarter of section 2 and the east half 
of the northeast quarter of tiie northeast 
quarter of section 3, was laid out by Silas 
Cossairt, F. B. Smith and the railroad com- 
pany, in the fall of 1886, P.M. Dalil being 
the civil engineer. The plat was filed for 
record May 11, 1887. 

Previous to the location of the town-site. 
a store was opened there in May, 1SS6, by 
Parker «fe Cossairt. This was a small branch 
of their Litchfield store, but, when the rail- 
road came liere, they put up a large building 
and increased the stock to a great extent. 

The next building was a blacksmith shop, 
erected by Henry llukreide. 



In December, 1886, "William Hardy o])oned 
a store for the sale of general merchandise, 
and about the same time the two hotels, the 
Mansard and Pacific houses, were erected 
and opened for business. 

Duringthe same month two elevators were 
put up, one by Hoskins & Reeves, and the 
other by the railroad company. The for- 
mer is now operated by Andrew Johnson, 
for its present owners, Osborne & McMullen, 
of Minneapolis. 

The first dwelling house was put up by 
Bartley McDonough, that fall, and the second 
by C. J. O'Brien. The next spring there 
was several other stores adtled to the place, 
among them a general stock of some $10,000, 
kept by Theisen & Schoen ; a hard ware store 
In' C. Schmidt (fe Co., and one by John 
Cooney ; one furniture establishment kept by 
William Thoms; and other smaller institu- 
tions. W. H. Greenleaf & Son have a lum- 
ber yard here also. 

The ]iostoffice was established April 1, 
1887, with Samuel Cossairt as postmaster. 

A fine depot was built about the same 
time, Avitli L. Y. Brown as station agent. 

The Christian church, a neat and tasty 
structure, was erected in the fall of 1887. 

There are now, in addition to the houses 
mentioned above, the following business 
places: AVilliam Kersten, general merchan- 
dise;two more blacksmith shops; atemperance 
pool room. I'lin by E. H. Caswell, and a con- 
fectioneiy stand, by T. B. Mann. 



CHAPTER X. 

TOWN OF KINGSTON. 

*HE town of Kingston is the largest 
subdivision of Meeker county 
acing all of township 120 
noi'tli, range 29 west, and the south half of 
township 121, the same range. It contains, 
in nil, 3-t,389.39 acres, of which 1.337 are 



^jisr^HE to\ 

(^ I y civil s 

JIL embni 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



557 



covered with water. Much of the land is 
still covered by the primeval forest, a j^ortion 
of " The Big Woods." The Crow River, that 
crosses its territory from west to east, bisect- 
ing sections IS, 19, 20, 21,22, 23, 26 and 25, 
seems to be the boundary line between the 
prairie and forest, south of it being mostly 
prairie, and north of it timber land. Con- 
sequent upon this, the first settlements were 
made in the southern part of the town, 
many locating upon the banks of the river, 
and at the village of Kingston. 

The first to settle in this subdivision of 
the county is believed to have been IMark 
Gates, in the spring of 1856, and he was fol- 
lowed shortly after by J. B. Salisbui'y, A. P. 
Whitney, Benjamin and Josiah Doi'man, 
John Fitzgerald. Patrick Flynn, A. C. 
Maddox, Henry Averill, Cyrus Averill, War- 
ren Averill. Elmer Harper, AVilliam Higgins, 
John T. Kennison, Joseph Wej'mer, JMorris 
Power, Wellington Cates, B. P. Whitnej', 
Oliver Patch, Solomon Gi'ay, John K. Per- 
kins, John Lowell, Byley Lyford, John Mar- 
tin, Uriah Palmer, Enoch Eastman, Rufus 
Eastman, Robert Niles, Nelson Niles, and 
Scott Hutchinson. 

In 1857 Orrin Whitney, S. B. Ilutchins, 
Benjamin Ruggles and E. H. Whitney were 
the most prominent settlers, but few coming 
here that year. 

Among those who came here in 1858. and 
here found homes, may be mentioned F. 
V. DeCoster, George Scribner, A. H. Car- 
vill, Jefferson Carvill, and John Do^de. 

The trials, tribulations and hardships en- 
dured by the pioneers of the town would fill 
a volume. Coming here, for the most part, 
without money, or the wherewitiial to live 
until tliey could get a crop, their endurance 
was severely tested. The land had to be pre- 
pared, and seed purchased before the land 
could be sown, ant! in many cases to get the 
seed was a serious problem. 

Some of these old pioneers still live in this 



town, some are in other {lortions of the 
county, many have moved away, and a part 
havejmssed to their reward beyond the grave. 
Their work remains, however, and it is due 
to the hardy pioneers of this county to re- 
mark that when they laid the foundations of 
society in this part of the State, they builded 
better than they knew, and to tiiem is due 
much of the development of its resources. 

Enough settlers having located here, on the 
5th of April, 1858, the town was duly organ- 
ized, at which time the following names 
bore a prominent part : A. P. Whitney, J. 
B. Salisbury, Orrin Whitney, Benjamin 
Ruggles, Mark Cates, E. H. Whitney, Joseph 
Weymer, Joseph Dorman, S. B. Hutchins 
and others of the older settlers. The pres- 
ent officers are : Supervisors, John Clay 
(chairman), Andrew Anderson and Geo. W. 
Robinson ; assessor, Ben Apfeld ; justice of 
tiie peace, Walter Salisbury, and Timothy 
Murphy, clerk. 

The first birth in the town was that of 
Will II. Cates, in the opinion of the older 
residents. He was born July 6, 1856. 

The first death was that of Morris Power, 
who died in 1857. 

The first marriage, which was also the first 
in the county, was that of Joseph Weymer 
and Miss Mary Dorman, in August, 1857. 

The first school was taught by James A. 
Austin, in the summer of 1857. This was 
undoubtedly the first in the count3\ The 
teacher held the school in the cabin of Enoch 
Eastman, which the people had fitted up for 
the pui'pose. 

The first school house was built in 18G1, at 
the village of Kingston. 

The pioneer religious services were held at 
the village, up stairs over the store, by Rev. 
J. C. Whitney, in 1857. 

KINGSTON VILLAGE. 

The village of Kingston, which lies in this 
town, although now of but smaller inipor- 



558 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



tance, was, at one time, the rival and peer of 
the then county-seat. The location of the 
seat of justice at Litchfield, and the arrival 
of the I'aiiroad at that village, destroyed the 
hopes of Kingston, as well as several others, 
and it is now but a semblance of its former 
self. The town site was taken up by Albion 
P. Whitney, G. R. Nourse and R. P. Upton, 
in 1857, and surveyed and laid out that fall 
by a surveyor liy the name of Curtis. The 
plat was filed for record June 2, 1858. The 
village is located upon the northwest quar- 
ter of section 22, township 120, range 20. 

Here the town pro])rietors put in the dam, 
and commenced the erection of the saw-mill 
in 1857, anil that institution commenced 
operations in July, of that year. 

A stock of goods was brought hei-e dur- 
ing the spring of 1857, by A. P. Whitney, 
and the first sales were made from the los; 
cabin of that gentleman. 

The same year the first store building 
was erected and a stock of goods put in by 
Whitney, bourse & Upton. In 1858 A. P. 
Whitney disposed of his interest in the con- 
cern, and shortly after the business passed 
into the hantls of Hines & Carmer. The 
next to operate the institution was Iliram 
Hall, who was followed by William Hall, and 
he by Peck, Hutchinson & Durkee. Peck k. 
Durkee were their successors, and were fol- 
lowed by Owen ct Murphy, and the estab- 
lishment is now under the control of the 
Murphy Bros. 

The other store building was erected about 
1859, and in it N. C. Hines commenced the 
sale of general merchandise. He was suc- 
ceeded by William Hall, he by F. V. De Cos- 
ter, and the latter by E. A. Briggs. 

The mercantile life of the village is now 
represented by the firm of Murphy Bros., 
dealers in general merchandise ; E. A. Briggs, 
capitalist; a blacksmith shop kept by Mr. 
Mahoney, and a wagon-making shop operated 
by Samuel Dorman. 



The grist-mill was erected in 1858. by A. 
P. Whitney ifc Co., the foundation having 
been put in by (Jri'in Whitney, for them. 
The f(jllowing year the property passed into 
the hands of Hiram Hall, and was run l)y 
Hall & Davis, Hall k, Thompson, King & 
De Coster, Hall & Thompson again, and J. 
H. Thom]ison, successively, until it was pur- 
chased and improved by John Mattson, the 
present owner. 

East Kingston was laid out in 1871, by 
Jefferson Carvill, upon the northeast quar- 
ter of section 14, and the plat filed for record 
January 24, 1871. 

Jefferson and Dr. A. H. Carvill had, how- 
ever, in 1806, taken up the mill site, and 
erected a dam at this place, and the follow- 
ing year put up the grist and saw mill, which 
constituted the entire business of the place. 
The Carvill Bros, ran the mills until 1873, 
when the doctor sold out to John Norgren, 
and for several years they were operated 
under the firm name and style of Carville & 
Norgren. Jefferson Carvill then became 
sole proprietor, but for the past three years 
the mills have been silent, they being in liti- 
gation. 






CHAPTER XI. 

CEDAR MILLS TOWNSHIP. 

IST^HIS town, which embraces all of 
y townslii]) 117, north range 31 west, 
lies in the extreme southern part 
of the county. It contains a total acreage 
of 24,209.44, but 077 acres are taken up by 
the various lakes that dot its level and 
beautiful surface. The largest of these pel- 
lucid bodies of water, Red Cedar Lake, 
received its name from Xicollet on account 
of an island in it covered with timber of that 
variety. On the old maps, and in John C. 
Fremont's work, it is designated by its 
Indian title of Ranti-tia-wita, or the Lake of 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



559 



the Tied Cedar Island. From this the town 
drew its name. The ground is shghtly roll- 
ing and of a prairie character, and the soil 
is of a warm, rich, black loam, which has a 
wonderful adaptability for raising wheat 
and other cereals. 

The first to make a settlement within the 
limits of this town was Daniel Cross, who 
came here with his family in 1856. He was 
one of the victims of the tragic days of the 
Indian outbreak, being shot down by the 
treacherous Sioux. 

In 1857 K. J. Brodwell, O. S. Merriam, 
Philander Ball and Elmer Eighmey made 
settlements here. The same year the follow- 
ing settled here also : Milton Coombs, Hector 
Hunter, David Hern, John Hunter, a 
German by the name of Steinkopf, AYilliam 
Hunter, Charles H. Stinchfleld, L. S. Wey- 
mouth and a Doctor Hester, who brought 
several young men with him. The names of 
the latter have passed out of the minds of 
the settlers, and can not be given at this late 
day. 

The settlers of 1858 wei'e the following 
named, who all found homes here : S. D. L. 
Baldwin, George R. Jewett, C. G. Topping. 
. In the year 1859, a few more settlers 
here found the land they were seeking, and 
took claims. Among them were — George 
Nichols and Jesse W. Topping, both of whom 
were largely instrumental in the growth of 
the town. 

Among the jiromment arrivals of 1860 
■were II. J. Lasher, J. M. Pitman, Seth 
Nichols, and one or two more that no longer 
live here. No more valuable citizens than 
those named above could have found a home 
here, and after they took up their claims 
here they Avere strongly identified with 
every movement calculated to benefit the 
community. 

Among those "who, although not very 
early settlers, still having done so much to- 
ward the upliuilding of the town, deserve 



mention in a work of this character, are the 
following named : Arthur AVheeler, Isaac 
Wheeler, Jesse Barrick, A. C. Barrick, John 
Curry, William Owens, James A. Austin, 
Elijah Austin, E. E. Austin, R. D. Grindall, 
Edward Stafford, Edwin Gillett and C. B. 
Jordan. 

The first deaths occurred in 1S59, and 
were two children of Elmer Eighmey's. 

The first school was taught by Miss 
Sophia Pratt, at the residence of Daniel 
Cross, in 1860, at Cedar Mills. The first 
school-house was built in 1869, and E. B. 
Com stock was the first teacher there. 

The first religious services were held the 
winter of 1859-60, at the house of H. J. 
Lasher, by Ilev. H. Adams, a Presbyterian 
minister from St. Peter. 

There was a postofiice established here in 
1858, with C. G. Tupping as postmaster. 
He held the ottice until 1861, when he was 
succeeded by H. J. Lasher. During the In- 
dian outbreak, the latter buried the official 
papers in the ground, and for several years 
there was no postofiice within the town 
limits. In 1870, in answer to a petition the 
postoifice was re-established, with Thomas 
Vinacke as postmaster. He was succeeded 
by J. D. Baldwin, who resigned two years 
later. O. W. Sterns was the next to occupy 
that position. Following him came E. B. 
Conistock, Elijah Austin, L. E. Austin and 
the ])resent incumbent, Mrs. Julia Anderson. 

The Presbvterian Church was organized 
in the town in May, 1879, with Rev. J. S. 
Sherrell, of Litchfield, as pastor, and a mem- 
bershi]) of about twenty-five. The first elder 
was John C. Curry, but later on S. W. Bar- 
rick and J. W. Topping were elected to the 
same position. In 1882 a neat and hand- 
some church edifice was erected upon a lot of 
four acres of ground donated by Judge Yan- 
derburg, of Minneajwlis. The building cost 
some -$1,800. Services were kept up every 
alternate Sabbath until October, 1887, when 



56o 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Rev. E. CuiTV became tlie resident pastor, 
and services are lield on every Sunday. The 
church lias now a menibersbip of forty-one, 
witli tlie following- officers : H. J. Lasher, J. 
W. Topping- and S. AV. Barrick, elders; R. 
A. Wiieeler, H. J. Lasher, E. B. Littell, 
Franklin Curry and L N. Wheeler, trustees. 
The church was dedicated July 16, 1883, 
Rev. D. E. Wells, of Minneapolis, preaching 
the sermon. 

The ))ioneer store of Cedar Mills was 
established in ISTO, by J. D. Baldwin. For 
a couple of years he ran it, alone and in com- 
pany with a brother, and then sold out to O. 
W. Sterns. A shoil time after this gentle- 
man formed a jiartnership with E. B. Com- 
stock. These parties drifted into the black- 
smith business and their mercantile venture 
came to naught, finally, and some years after 
they disposed of the smithy. 

In the fall of 1870, Ira Williams put in a 
stock of goods, but altera short time in his 
possession and in that of E. Gdlett. it was 
purchased by L. E. Austin, who ran it for 
ten years. In the fall of 1887 another store 
was started by Elliott & Anderson, but in 
March, 1888, it was sold to the present pro- 
prietors, Standish Bros. 

There are now two blacksmith shops in the 
village, one run Ijy Louis Ivlamm, and the 
other by A'igenske & iJumont. 

The flouring mill at Cedar Mills was erected 
by George Nichols, in 18.58, who run it until 
1867, when it was purchased by C. B. Jor- 
dan. The latter employed Samuel Anderson, 
a miller, to run it, but some time afterward it 
passed into the hands of Dr. Y. P. Kennedy. 
He took out the machinery, remodeled it, 
and finally sold the equipment, and it was all 
taken down and moved away. 

The town was organized January 25, 1870, 
at a meeting held at the residence of Isaac 
Wheeler, some thirty votei-s being present. 
Mr. AVheeler was chosen moderator, and 
James A. Austin clerk of the meeting, and 



the following town officers chosen : J. M. 
Pitman, chairman, and E. II. Halsted and 
E. R. Austin, supervisors; J. A. Austin, 
clerk; John Dyer, treasurer; E. Gillett, 
assessoi' ; V. P. Kennedy and A. C. Barrick, 
justices. 

The officers for 1888 are the following: 
Supervisors, E. B. Littell, chairman, F. E. 
Wheeler and A. G. Beckstrand ; clei'k, James 
A. Austin ; treasurer, R. D. Grindall ; asses- 
sor, I. X. Wheeler ; constables, W. A. Currj' 
antl A.D.Cross; justice of the peace, T. 
Vinacke ; roadmasters, Vincent Combs, Amos 
Barrick, O. J. Austin, E. C. Bell. Fred 
Schultz, II. II. Weeks. 



-«« 



CHAPTER XII. 



SWEDE GROVE TOWNSHIP. 




^^Hj^^HE subdivision of Meeker county 
l)earing this appellation lies upon 
[^ the western border of the county, 
and comprises the thirty six sections of 
Congressional township 120, nortii of range 
32 west, and contains 22,746.0-1 acres, 
22,155.18 of which are either fine farm lands, 
or covered with the primeval timber, the 
balance being water. For the most part the 
surface is of a gentle, I'olling character, and 
is neai'ly all of it natural meadow or prairie, 
interpersed with native groves or mottes of 
timber, seemiiigh' prepared for the plow by 
beneficent nature. The soil is the ricli.dai'k, 
sandy loam, that has made the name of 
Minnesota synonymous with all that is fertile 
and productive. 

Several beautiful lakes nestle on the bosom 
of the township, which all abound with vari- 
ous species of the finny tribe, and because 
of the abundance of the game in this neigh- 
borhood, and the fine quality of the fisli, it 
was a favorite resort for the Indians in an 
eaih' dav. The lakes bear the names of 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



561 



Wilcox, Mud, Miller, Peterson, Halga, and 
Elofson. 

Among the sturdy pioneers that made set- 
tlements in this township in 1857 were 
Hans Peterson and his family, Peter E. 
Hanson, then a lioy, Andrew Peterson, N. 
E. Hanson, John Eosencranz, Bertha Elof- 
son, and her sons. Nels, Andrew, and Peter 
Elofson, jSTels Thorbjornson, Helgar Olson, 
Amos Olson, K'els Olson, and Nels Askelson. 

With the year 1858 came others to found 
homes in this part of the county, prominent 
among whom Avere the following : William 
H. Wilcox. Christian Erickson, Halver Mick- 
elson, Arslag Olson and John Larson. Mr. 
Wilcox is one of the few native American 
settlers in the town, and holds the warmest 
esteem and respect of the entire community. 
Arslag Olson was the settler who was so 
badly wounded during the attack on the 
stockade at Forest City, in 1862. 

Swen Nelson and a few others settled in 
the town during the year 1859, but from 
that time until the close of the war there 
were very few, if any, who sought homes 
here, and none are remembered by the old 
settlers. 

The town was a portion of the civil town- 
shi]i of Acton until March 15, 1868, when it 
was organized as a .separate precinct, by 
Nels Elofson, Nels E. Hanson, and AV. H. 
Wilcox. The name was given on account 
of its having been first settled V)y the Swed- 
ish colony. At the first election among the 
officers chosen were the following: Nels 
Elofson. chairman of the town lioard ; Nels 
E. Hanson, clerk ; and W. H. Wilcox, treas- 
urer. 

The present officers are as follows : Swan 
W. Olson, chairman ; Andrew Elofson and 
Andrew Peterson, supervisors ; Nels Oke- 
son, clerk ; Henry Palm, treasurer ; Mr. 
Sily, justice ; and Xels Erickson, constable. 

In 1864 a postoffice known as Swede 
Grove was established at the house of Nels 



Elofson, then on section 33, and that gentle- 
man made postmaster. He held that 
office until 1870, when he resigned to make 
a trip to the old country, in favor of Mr. 
Dahlquist. The latter held it about one 
year, when he was succeeded by Ole J. Le- 
vander. It was removed to what is now 
Grove City, in 1870, when Mr. Dahlquist 
was appointed, and has continued there ever 
since. 

The first birth in the town was that of 
Peter Peterson, the son of Andrew Peter- 
son, born January 3, 1859. The second was 
that of A. P. Hanson, born the 9th of June, 
following. 

The first death was the child of Ole Nel- 
son, a Swede who came here in 1857, but 
shortly after went to Carver county. The 
child was buried on Nels Elofson's place. 

The pioneer marriage was that between 
John Larson and Miss Hannah Elofson, 
which took place in 1858. 

The first school was taught at the house 
of Nels Elofson, by Kev. William Bagiund, 
a Lutheran minister, in 1859. 

The first religious services were held at 
Nels Elofson's residence on section 33, in 
1859, by the Ptcv. Mr. Bagiund. 

The pioneer to ]ilow up the sod and 
sow grain was Hans Peterson, in 1859; He 
did some breaking in 1857 and 1858, but did 
not sow until the vear mentioned above. 



CHAPTER XIIL 

DASSEL TOW'XSHIP. 

[i^^HE subdivision of Jleeker county 
that bears this name lies in the 
eastern tiei- of townships, and em- 
braces all of Congressional township 119 
north of range 29 west, and contains 22,967.66 
acres of ground ; 3,275.66 are covered with 
water, leaving something like 19,692 acres 






562 



MEhKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



suitable for agricultural use. ]\ruch of the 
land is covered with tiuiber and the soil is of 
a choice quality. The town was originally a 
portion of the town of Kingston, and when 
set off was called Swan Lake, after a body of 
water Avithin its limits, of that name. In 
1871, on a petition of tlie citizens of the town- 
ship its name was changed to Dassel, after 
the village of that name within its bound- 
aries. 

The earliest settk'i's in this portion of the 
county wereuntloubtedly two surveyors by the 
names of C. L. Jiichardson and Edwin Ayres, 
who located here in ISofi. They came to this 
locality from their homes in Houston county, 
this State, having come from Mexico, N. Y., 
originally. They built a cabin on section 14, 
where they lived until the Indian troubles of 
1862, when they fled, and the savages burned 
their shanty. This was on what was after- 
wards termed Ayres' Prairie. 

There were no other settlers who located 
in the town until after the Indian massacre, 
which depopulated the border and checked 
the tide of immigration in lS(i2. In Novem- 
ber, 1863, Isaac Eussell and his brother 
Anthony "W., with their families, came here 
and took up claims on section 10. The\' 
were natives of Vermont. Tliey Uved here 
some Tears, and combined hunting and trap- 
ping with their farm ojiei'ations. Isaac, in 
1875, went to the Black Hills, but retui'ned 
here in 1882, and here died, November 13. 
1883. His brother died some years previous 
to that. 

Wells Tumans, with his family, made a set- 
tlement in the summer of 1805, on section 14. 
The same year he was followed by Barne}' 
Cox, G. D. Arrowood, and Peter and "William 
Cunningham. 

The settlers of 1866 were the following 
named, who all took up claims and per;na- 
nently located in the town — Thomas and 
James Sellards, Lewis Eudberg, John Erick- 
son, John Rudberg, "William Mayiiard, 



Andrew Davidson, Mrs. Gardner and her 
son Peter, David "W. King, John McKinney, 
Madison Delong, John Hendrickson, Eric 
liuiKjuist, B. N. Backstrom, Henry Mattson, 
and James Littom. 

Among those who fouiul homes in this 
town in 1867, were : Peter Johnson, Harlow 
Ames, Sr., Harlow F. Ames, Henry Ames, 
and others. All these now occupy cjuite 
prominent positions in the county, as will l)e 
seen on reference to the biographical depart- 
ment of this work. 

The first school-house in the town was 
built in 1867. on the corners of sections 10, 
11, 14 anil 15. It was a small atTair, l)uilt of 
logs with a dirt roof, and had to admit the 
light through two small half sash, let into the 
sides. Mrs. E. M. "Winan was the pioneer 
teacher. 

The first frame house was erected by 
Harlow Ames on section 23, and is now a 
])ortion of the residence of that gentleman. 
Tlie first chimney regularly built was also 
by him. 

The first child born in the town was 
probably George Cunningham, Avhose liirth 
took ])lacelate in the year 1865. The second 
was that of Ada Tumans, who was born ]\[ay 
6, 1866. 

The first death was that of the child of 
James and Margaret Littom. 

The first marriage w-as that of Barney Co.x 
and Janet Davitison, which occurred in 
April, 1S68. 

The township was organized as Swan 
Lake, in the fall of 1866, at which time the 
following officers were chosen — John Smith 
(chairman), Frederick Spath and "NA^ayne 
Russell, supervisors; G. D. Arrowood, clerk ; 
Andrew Davidson and William Maynard, 
justices of the peace. G. A. Arrowood was 
appointed the first assessor. In 1871 the 
name of the town was changed to its present 
one. The present (18SS) officers of the town- 
ship, consist of the following named — Super- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



-563 



visors: Andrew Davidson (chairman), Nelson 
Tninans and John Boo ; clerk, W. S. Cox ; 
treasurer, Peter Johnson ; assessor, A. J. 
Waller; justices, W. Bartholomew and Isaac 
Yervalin. 

A Methodist church was organized in 
187-i, by William Arrowood, in the school- 
house in district 21, with eighteen members, 
■which has been kept up ever since. In 1885 
the congregation erected a church edifice on 
the northwest corner of section 11, where 
they hold services every Sabbath, which are 
partially of a union character. 

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran was 
organized October 14, 1873, by Kev. F. Peter- 
son, with the following membership : An- 
drew Olson and wife ; Andrew Anderson and 
wife; Swen Johnson and wife; Andrew Larson 
and wife ; E. A. Boren and wife, and Lars 
Nelson and wife. The first officers were the 
following named : A. E. Boren, secretary ; 
A. E. Boren, Andrew Olson and Andrew 
Anderson, deacons ; and Andrew Larson, 
Lars Nelson and Swen Johnson, trustees. 
The congregation own some ten acres of 
land on section 5, where they have a frame 
church. The jjastorate was vacant until 
1881, when Pev. J. S. R3'ding took charge of 
the church. He was succeeded in jSroveml)er, 
1883, by the present pastor. Rev. L. A. 
Hocanzan, who has filled the duties ever 
since. The present officers are : L. A. 
Hocanzan, pastor; Andrew Tunians, secre- 
tary ; A, P. Gissle, A. Frank and John Lind- 
quist, deacons; and Nels Olson, Andrew 
Freeman and Andrew Larson, trustees. 
There are seventy-two communicants and 
l-fO members connected with the church, 
which holds meetings ever}^ Sunday. A Sab- 
bath-school is lield in operation during the 
summer months, and a parish school is held 
during some eight weeks in the year, with 
aljout forty scholars. The ]iroperty has a 
value of about $250, but no debt is due 
on it. 



DASSEL VILLAGE. 

The village of Dassel, which is situated in 
this township, upon the southeast quarter of 
the southwest quarter of section 27, and lot 
0, of the same section, and u])on the north- 
east quarter of the northwest rjuarter and 
the west half of the northwest quarter of 
section 3-4, was laid out and platted Ijy the 
St. Paul &c Pacific Railroad in 1803, on tlie 
advent of the road at this point, and tiled 
for record on the 11th of October, 1870. 
Several additions have been added to the 
original town site by Horace P. Breed, Ber- 
nard Dassel, A. M. Bell, and Jonas Rudberg. 
The land whereon the original site stands 
was owned previous to this h\ Madison De- 
Long, who had made a claim to it, and had 
erected a shanty near where R. T. Elliott 
now lives. Parker Simons, who was a civil 
engineer in the employ of the St. Paul & 
Pacific Railway, purchased the claim and 
proceeded to lay out the town, the railroad 
company acquiring an interest subsequently. 

He moved his family here as soon as the 
road was opened and made this his home, 
although his business called him away 
nearly all the time for several years. 

The town was named after Bernard 
Dassel, who was the secretary of the St. 
Paul & Pacific Railroad Companv, at 
that time. After laying out the place, 
in the fall of 1809 Mr. Simons put up 
the first frame Ijuilding-, and was quickly 
followed by Seth Nichols. Ralph Wal- 
ters erected a building for hotel purposes, 
which was opened and run as such by Mr. 
Phillips, and is still standing. 

During the fall of 18fi9 there were a few 
other dwelling houses erected, but in the 
pring and summer of 1870, quite a boom 
for the new village set in and a number of 
houses and store buildings were put up, and 
the population largely increased until it is 
to-day the largest place in the county out- 
side of the countv seat. It has now three 



564 



MEEKER COUN rv, MINNESOTA. 



elevators, a flouring mill, a woolen mill, two 
hotels, a public hall, engine house and jiub- 
lic library. Congregational, Seventliduy 
Adventists, Sweiiish Lutheran and Swedish. 
Missicjnary churches, and the tile stove 
w'orks. Quite a number of store buildings 
have been put up, and are all well filled with 
excellent stocks of goods, both necessaries 
and luxuries, aiul the mercantile trade is well 
rei)resented i)V a fine class of enterprising 
merchants, who are doing quite a large share 
of the business of this section of the county. 

The jiioneer stoie was o|>ened by James 
and Charles Morris in the fall of ISCO, who 
displayed a full stock of general merchandise. 
This ]ilace was run by the original owners, 
and afterwards b}' Charles Morris until 1872, 
when it was sold to Wilson & Bunting, wiio 
continued to operate it until 1875, when the 
business was purchased by the Rudberg 
Brothers. 

A steam saw mill was next erected by 
George Brower, William Bradford and 
Thomas Wilson. These gentlemen operated 
it but a short time, Avhen there was a change 
in the copartnership, and it passed through 
several hands, until in 1875, when it was 
destroyed by tiiv. The following year it 
was rebuilt and continued in opei';ition until 
about August, 1881, when it was blown down 
by wind and never rebuilt. 

James H. Morris, now of Litchfield, built 
the second store building, the one now occu- 
pied by Peter Johnson as an office, in which 
was opened a stock of general merchandise 
in 1872. 

In 1872 the third store was commenced by 
Mickel Henderson, who died before finishing- 
it. In the latter part of October, 1873, this 
building was occupied by O. II. Sundahl and 
Lewis and Jonas J. Rudberg, who opened a 
general stock. This they ran until 1874. 
Then C. A. Morris purchased SundaiiFs in- 
terest, and in 1875 the firm purchased the 
business of Samuel Bunting's executors, as 



above stated, and incorporated it with 
their business. 

The fourth store building was built by 
Norgren k, Co. in 1875, and was occupied by 
them until 1880, when they removed to 
their present quarters. 

John Osborne was the first to deal in 
lumber and furniture, commencing in those 
lines in 1874. In 1881 he sold out to the 
Itudberg Brothers, and this old stand is still 
continued by the survivor of that firm, John 
Rudberg. 

The old Dassel riouse,tlie pioneer hotel, was 
built in 1872, by George Brower, and for a 
time was run by him. Samuel Bunting 
afterwards o])crated it, and, after his death, 
his widow. J. II. Remick held the position 
of landlord from 1877 until February 3, 
1883, when the structure burned to the 
ground. It was then rebuilt in its present 
shape. 

The first hardware store in Dassel was 
established in 1880 by H. L. Babst, who ran 
it until 1882. when he sold out to K. M. 
Bell, who in ls8(i disposeil of it to W. S. 
Bartholomew, who sold it to Cox & Galla- 
gher in 18SS. L. W. Leigliton and J. M. 
Johnson, in August, 1882, opened the second 
store of this character and carried on the 
trade until Jaiuuay 7, 1887, when Mi'. John- 
son bought his partner's interest, and the 
firm is now J. M. Johnson it Co. 

The pioneer drug store was commenced in 
1872, by C. A. Morris and Lewis Rud- 
berg, who carried it on until 1875, when 
Rudberg sold to his partner, who operated it 
until 1880, and then disposed of it to Dr. Mc- 
Collum and George Breed, who sold it again 
in 1883, to Rudberg Bros. On the death of 
Jonas Rudberg, in 1885, a partnership was 
formed by his widow and R. F. Case, which 
lasted for one year, when the latter purchased 
tiie business, aiul cariies it on. 

The first grain warehouse was built in 
1870 by the IMillers' Association, and in 1876 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA, 



565 



the same corporation erected the pioneer ele- 
vator. The latter, now owned by the Minne- 
sota and Dakota Elevator Company, has a 
capacity of 30,000 bushels of wheat, and last 
year (1887) handled 7,000 bushels of that 
cereal alone. It is under the management of 
Harry Hines. The Dassel elevator was 
built by the citizens of the place in 18S0, and 
has a capacity of 45,000 bushels; in 1887 
shipped some 65,000 bushels of wheat. 
This is managed by J. II. McKinney. The 
CargillBros. elevator was erected in 1885, by 
Alexander Cofield, and this institution 
handleil 70,000 bushels during the past year. 
Weisner & Mattson, the proprietors of 
the machine and l)lacksmitli shop, established 
their business in the fall of 18S3, as a wagon, 
blacksmith anil repair shop, which they 
carried on until the fall of 18SG, when they 
put in an engine of four-horse power and 
some machinery. October 30, 1887, their 
shop was destroyed by fire, when they met 
"with a loss of some $1,500. At once they 
erected their present shop, which is 40x60 
feet in size and well fitted up, and where 
they carry on business, employing some four 
or five workmen. 

The flouring mill of Dassel was erected as 
a foundry in 1883, and in 1887 E. Heglund 
purchased it and remodeled the edifice and 
put in roller machinery of the finest descrip- 
tion. It has a capacity of sixty barrels per 
da}', and is valued at between $8,000 and 
$10,000. The building is of solid brick and 
substantially built, and the internal arrange- 
ments are of the best. The motive power is 
furnished by a good engine of forty horse- 
power. The output of the mill ranks with 
the best, and is made out of the famous Min- 
nesota hard wheat. 

The woolen mill was built about 1882 by 

G. 1j. Lewis and S. P. I'reetl, and is one of 

the leading industries of the jilace. It has 

• been improved largely of late, and is now in 

the hands of a stock company. 



A custom card-machine mill was built in 
1876, by G. B. Lewis & Co., for the manu- 
facture of certain kinds of woolen yarns, but 
it was destroyed by fire in 1880. From the 
ashes of this rose the present woolen mill. 

The first wagon shop in the village was 
run by L. W. Leighton, in the spring of 1874. 

The first blacksmith sho]) was opened by 
Frederick Spath, in the fall of 1869, in a 
log shanty, without any roof, where he 
carried on ijusiness for a short time, and then 
built another smithy. He remained in this 
business in the village until 1881, when he 
removed to his farm in the township where 
he now lives. 

There is a most excellent graded school, 
the building in which it is located, a hand- 
some and substantial brick edifice, having 
been erected by the Indejiendent district in 
1885. It contains eight rooms, and cost some 
$10,000 to build and tiuish. Prof. R. McKay 
is the present j)rincipal. The town hall and 
library are located in the same house with 
the village fire apparatus, and are each of 
them worthy of more than a passing notice. 
The library, which consists of an extensive 
selection of choice booivs, reflects great credit 
upon the taste and enterprise of the place 
in initiating so noble an institution. 

The tile stove works of Peter Johnson is 
yet in its infancy, and is the only one of the 
kind in the United States. It was estab- 
lished by the present proprietor in 1886, and 
is for the manufacture of tile stoves, etc., 
such as have been in use in the northern part 
of Europe for years, but which have been, 
until now, unknown in America. Mr. John- 
son has inaugurated the enterprise at an out- 
la}' of some $10,000, and, having already met 
with a merited success, anticipates greatly 
enlarging the plant in the summer of 1888. 
This is one of the greatest institutions in 
the county and such places as St. Paul and 
Minneapolis would bid high to have it 
brouoht into their limits. 



566 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



The postoffico was established here in the 
fall of 1SG9, and Isaac Atwater, the station 
agent of the railroad, was the first postmas- 
ter. He had the office in the depot, and there 
held it until the summer of 1877, when he 
was succeeded by C A. Morris, J ul y 1. Lewis 
Rudl)erg was the successor of Mr. Morris, 
and entered upon its duties July 1, 1881, and 
held it until January 1, 1883, when he gave 
way to Louis Osterlund. Ma}' 1, 1887, 
Henry Clay assumed the duties of the office, 
and is the present postmaster. 

The village was duly incorporated as such 
March 4, 1S7S, and is still governed under 
the charter granted at that time. The first 
officers of the village were the following 
named : J. B. Smith, president ; C. A. Mor- 
ris, recorder ; H. P. Breed, Allen Weatherby 
and J. J. Rndberg, trustees. Since that time 
H. P. Breed, J. J. Rudberg, J. II. Eemick, 
L. W. Leighton, P. Johnson and J. 11. 
McKenney have filled tlie office of president 
of the village hoard ; J. J. Iludberg, Fred 
Spath, C. A. Morris, August Sallbei'g, Lewis 
Eudberg, J. M. Johnson, L. W. Leighton, 
John Norgren, William Gallagher, A. M. 
Bell, John Iludberg, S. O. Lindgren, L. A. 
Whitmore and Alexander Cofield have served 
as members of the board of trustees. W. L. 
Yan Eman, C. A. McCollum, Douglas Mar- 
tin and S. O. Lindgren have each in turn 
filled the position of recorder. The present 
officers are as follows : W. D. Bangs, presi- 
dent ; S. O. Lindgren, recorder; J. Norgren, 
treasurer; W. S. Bartholomew, justice, and 
J. Kudberg, J. M. Johnson and J. J. Lind- 
quist, trustees. 

The Gethsemane Swedish Evangelical Lu- 
theran Church was oi-ganized February 13, 
1S73, with the following memi:)ers : Daniel 
Johnson and wife, Taylor Johnson and wife, 
Swen Johnson and wife, F. J. Peterson and 
wife, C. J. Johnson and wife, Olaf Dahlman 
and wife, and Johannes Johnson and wife. 
The officers at the time of its establishment 



were as follows: Rev. J. G. Lagerstrom, 
pastor; D. Johnson, secretary ; Daniel John- 
son, Swen Johnson and Taylor Johnson, dea- 
cons ; C. G. Johnson, Olaf Dahlman and C. 
G. Johnson, trustees. A log ciiurch was 
built the same year by the congregation, at 
Steelsville, in which services were held until 
1878, when they purchased the school-house 
for $350, in the village of Dassel, and fitted 
it up for a church, which they occupied until 
lS8<i, when they erected the edifice where 
they now worship. This is a brick-veneered 
Iniilding, 38x02 feet on the ground, 21 feet 
in heiglit, with a sacristy twenty -four feet 
square in addition, and a tower eighty-five 
feet in height, which is fourteen feet square 
at the base. It is handsomely frescoed and 
furnished within, and is a nice property. 
This, together with the school-house and sta- 
bles at Steelsville, is valued at $6,000. The 
present officers are: Rev. L. A. Ilocanzan, 
pastor ; D. Johnson, Taylor Johnson, 0. P. 
Carlsledt, Matt Anderson, Alfred Soder and 
O. (Miristofferson, deacons ; D. Danielson, 
Aug. Sangreen and B. J. Peterson, trustees; 
Peter Sangreen, secretary, and Aug. San- 
green, treasurer. There is a membership of 
350, and a list of 211 communicants. A 
Sunday-school of eighty scholars is held in 
connection with the church. 

The Swedish Mission Church was organ- 
ized August 15, 1879, by John G. Sjorquist, 
with some twenty members. J. Norgren, E. 
Skarvik and E. Eunquist were chosen trus- 
tees at that time and E. Skarvik, Z. Dolin, 
John Olson, Nels Nelson, J. E. Ileglund, 
and E. Eunquist, deacons. Services of 
this denomination were held in the ]ilace, 
at the residence of J. Norgren, as early as 
1872, and were continued from time to time 
until the organization of the society. At 
that time they rented John Eudberg's hall, 
which tiipy occu])ied until 1881, when steps 
were taken to build their present church edi- ' 
fice, which was completed in 1SS5. This 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



567 



structure is, in the main building, 28x36 feet 
in size, with an annex 16x18 feet on the 
ground. Tlie church is well furnished and 
fitted inside, and has a large and increasing 
membership. The following are the present 
officers : Kev. John G. Sjorquist, pastor: O. AV. 
Olson, secretary ; E. Is'. Dahlgren, Joini Olson 
and A. G. Heglund, trustees ; E. Skarvik, P. 
Nelson, Frank Johnson, Hans Anderson, 
Andrew Olson, and John Nelson, deacons. 

Colfax Post, G. A. R., was organized 
March 18, 1885, on which evening A. E. 
Becker, deputy grand commander, assisted 
by comrades V. II. Harris, J. B. Atkinson 
and J. B. Hatch, installed the officers and 
mustered in the members. The charter mem- 
bers Avere the following named — H. Y_ 
Dorman, J. Bogart, M. Boyer, C. C. Curtis, 
E. F. Proctor, P. T. Elliott, John Bogar, E. 
A. Hines, J. E. Lyon, A. M. Bell, David 
Flack, James Patterson, Henry Clav, J. T. 
Shumater, C. II. Castle, Theodore Singleton, 
Josepli Hamilton, John Mattson, Henry 
Lenhart, John A. Quick and M. H. Boyer. 
The following named were elected as tlie first 
officers, and duly installed — E. F. Proctor, C- 
II. Y. Dorman, S. V. C; John Bogar, J. V.' 
C; A. M. Bell, Q. M.; Henry, A.; M. Boyer 
O. D.; C. C. Curtis, S.; David Flack, Chaplain; 
J. Bogart, O. G. The organization increased 
in strength rapidlj', until it numbered some 
thirty-two members, but by the removal of 
some of them from the county, a slight fall- 
ing off in their number is noted. In 1886 a 
drum corps was oi'ganized, as attached to 
the Post, consisting of four fifes and four 
drums, and is one of the institutions of the 
same. They own the furniture of their hall, 
with the decoration flags, banners, etc., and 
four lots in the cemetery. Meetings were 
held weekly, but are only semi-monthly at 
the present, but the interest is still main- 
tained in the order by all. The present 
officei's are — Isaac Vervalen, C; John Bogar, 
S. V. C; Wells Truman. J. V. C; G. O. Baily, 



A.; E. F. Proctor, Q. M.; Moses Bogar, O. D.; 
John A. Quick, Chaplain ; I. N. Russell, S.; 
and R. T. Elliott, O. G. 



^. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



DARWIN TOWNSHIP. 




^HE town that bears the name of 
Darwin was called after one of the 
prominent men connected with the 
St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba Railroad, 
and embraces all of Congressional township 
119, north of range 30 west, and contains 
23,002.26 acres, 20,552.86 of which are land 
and 2,949.1:0 acres covered with the water of 
the lakes. The soil is a rich, dark, sandy 
loam, capable of high cultivation and wond- 
erfullv productive. As to surface this is one 
of tlie finest townships in the county, being 
nearly all level or gently rolling pi'airie, well 
drained, and, with the growing crops, hand- 
some and tasty houses and barns surrounded 
by natural or artificial groves, presents to 
the eye one of the loveliest of pictures. 

The first to make a settlement in this town- 
ship was Patrick Casey, who came here from 
Pennsylvania in tlie spring of 1856, and on 
the 18th of June of that year, made his claim 
on section 33, on the shores of beautiful 
Lake Casey, where he now lives. 

Following him shortly were John Peiffer, 
Peter Stierens, Gottlieb Reef, Patrick Con- 
don, Joim Doyle, John Dougherty and Tim- 
othy Dunn. These all took claims and made 
homes here in the same year, 1856. 

They were joined during the year 1857 by 
the following named settlers, who here found, 
in the wilderness, the place for the homes 
they had set out to find in Minnesota : Wil- 
liam and Michael O'Brien, Bryan McXulty, 
William Cunningham, John McRaith, James 
Shelley, Jacob Reef, James Murphy, S. W. 
Ryan, Willard Keats, Richard Poole, Henry 
Bierman, John Curran, J. Powell, J. E. Bill, 



568 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Ca]ot. James Hayden, a man bv the name of 
Hitchcock, Edwin Fitch, and Mark Warren. 

Like all otlier sections of the county tlie 
little settlement received but few accessions 
the next few years, the financial crisis of 
1857 having paralyzed all inimigration and 
business. Among the ])rominent people 
who made settlements in 1859 were John S. 
Shields, Edwin and Lance Chapin, and Syl- 
vester Stevens. In IStiO the following named 
made tiieir iippearance, and, taking up land, 
became identified with the development of 
the town : James Dearey, Michael Ilaggerty, 
Michael Nash, Michael Gallahue, Samuel 
Charlton, and "Colonel'' Andrews. 

The town of Darwin held its first election 
in 1857, at which time it was known as the 
town of Rice City, Capt. James Llayden, 
from Dubuque, Iowa, having laid out and 
platted a city of that name, where the farm 
of John S. Shields is now located. The 
township, however, was not organized until 
April 5, 1858, when the proper election was 
held, and the town properly commenced its 
existence. After the coming of the railroad, 
in 1869, and the laying out of the village of 
Darwin, within it limits, the name of the 
town was changed to its present one. 

The officers in the town for the year 1888, 
are as follows: John Lenhardt, chairman; 
John Peiffer, second, and W. V. Passenger, 
supervisors; G. W. Harding, clerk; Ole 
Benson, treasurer ; William Lenhardt, asses- 
sor; D. H. Hull, and Tiiley McGannon, 
justices ; and Thomas Hughes and Henry 
Segar, constables. 

The first child born in the town was Mary 
Ann, the daughter of John and Mary Peif- 
fer, whose birtli took place in 1857. 

The first death was that of Edmund, the 
son of Timothy Dunn, who died in 1862. 

The first school was taught by Miss Mary 
Flynn, in 1859, in a log school-house near 
where Michael Harding's house now stands. 

Tlie first religious services were held at 



the house of Pr^'an McNult}'^, in 1861, Ilev. 
Father Alexis, from St. Cloud, celebrating 
mass of the Catholic church. This was in 
1860 or 1861. 

The Hrst marriage was that of John Doyle 
and Mary Lynch, which took place in 1861. 

DARWIN VILLAGE. 

Tlie village of Darwin was laid out and 
]ilatted by John Curran and Martin IMcKen- 
ney, and the St. Paul & Pacific llailroad Com- 
pany, and the papers were filed for record 
with the register of deeds, October 11, 1869. 
The site of the village lies upon the south 
half of section 23, and the north half of the 
northeast quarter of section 30. 

The pioneer merchant was Alexander 
Cairncross. 

The next was J. F. Low, who opened a 
store shortly after, and finallj' failed, and the 
stock was closed out. A man by the name 
of Moran opened a store, but afterward sold 
it out to James Curran. The latter ran it 
until his death, when he was succeeded by 
Erown Bros. They finally sold out the store 
and moved away. 

The Minnesota and Dakota elevator was 
built by C. D. Brown in the fall of 1870, but 
was ]n'eceded by one erected by the David- 
son Elevator Company, in 1869. This latter 
was burned down about 1880. The Cargill 
Bros." elevator was put up bj^ F. J. Chevre, 
in 1887, and passed into the hands of the 
present owners in the spring of 1888. 

Mrs. ]\L A. Paquet runs the only store in 
the place now, and thus the elevators and 
the temperance pool-room of Patrick McKin- 
ney constitute the business of the place. 



CHAPTER XV. 
HARVEY TOWNSHIP. 

^HE town known as Harvey 
embraces all of congressional 

township 120, north of range 31 

west, and contains 2-lr,830.92 acres, of which 




MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



569 



464 acres are covered with water. The soil 
is unusually fertile and productive, being- 
suitable for any of the great cereals of which 
Minnesota is the great storehouse. The 
land, which is generally of a slightly rolling 
character, is, a small portion of it, covered 
with the primeval growth of forest timber, 
but the most of it is in the natural prairie, 
and the clearings made by the hands of 
the industrious settlers. The Crow River, 
which flows through some of its eastern 
sections, -with the lakes and affluent creeks, 
afford ample drainage, and make the land 
very desirable. The soil, a sandy loam of 
high quality, is noted for its fecundity, and 
the improvements of the residents are of a 
marked degree of excellence. 

The first settler in this town was Rudolph 
Schultz, who located here where he now lives) 
in the spring of 1856. 

Among the others who settled within what 
is now the boundaries of Harvey the same 
year were — Mr. McCue, Dennis Shields, 
Edward Fitzgerald, Carl Shultz, J. W. 
Walker, Reuben Davis, David Ralston, Pat- 
rick Armstrong, John Tower, Dennis, John, 
Thomas and Daniel Dougherty, and a few 
others. They mostly took u]i homes here, 
and remained, and many of them are stiU 
residents of the town. 

In the following year, 1857, among the 
most prominent settlers were — Patrick Fin- 
negan, E. 0. Britt, Jorgen Lohse, William 
Marks and John C. Shultz. The date of 
John Ralston's settlement was March, 1858, 
and of Robert B. Ralston and Fergus McCus- 
ker, 1859. Like every other town in the 
county, there was but very little more settle- 
ment here until after the close of the war, 
when it began to fill up rapidly. Among 
the few who did settle prior to the outbreak 
of 18C2, not mentioned above, were the fol- 
lowing named — Samuel Hutchinson, Joachim 
Shultz, Henry Parker, L. F. McCusker, 
Martin Bramly, James Harve}', and two 



men by the names of Taylor and Thomas. 

The first birth was that of Miss Sarah Jane 
Dougherty, born July 15, 1856. She is the 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tliomas Doughertj^ 

The first marriage was that of Dennis 
Doughert_v and Miss Mary Finnegan, which 
took place in May, 1869. 

The first death was the taking away of 
Etldie Dolan, a child of eight years of age, 
in 1870. 

The first school was taught by Miss Mary 
Fiynn. 

The first ground was broken for farming 
purposes by Dennis Dougherty, in 1856, and 
the first crops were put into the ground by 
him, his father and brothers. 

Harvey, which was previous to that a part 
of Forest City, was organized as a separate 
civil township in the spring of 1867, and at 
the first election, held at the Dougherty 
school-house, Philip Turck and Patrick Flynn 
were chosen sujwrvisors, and Andrew Smith 
town clerk. 

The officers for 1888 are as follows — Super- 
visors : E. Carlson (chairman), T. AV. Curry 
and Patrick Vaughn; clerk, P. J. Mitchell; 
treasurer, James McCusker; assessor, J. C. 
Connole; constables, Thos. Flynn and Thos. 
J. Connole; justices, John Schultz and 
Michael Finnegan ; poundmasters, D. Rut- 
land, W. Shields and M. Nelson. 



CPIAPTER XVI. 

DANIELSON TOWNSHIP. 

„,^~^^ ONGRESSIONAL toAvnship 118, 
north of range 32 west, is known 
by the name of Danielson, after 
one of its earliest settlers. It embraces an 
area of 22,950 acres, some 974 acres of which 
are, however, unavailable for agricultural 
purposes, being covered by the waters of 
several lakes and ponds. The land, which is 




570 



MEEKER COUNTY. MINNESOTA. 



level prairie, is susceptible of high cultivation, 
and is uncommonly productive. Tiie inhabit- 
ants are an industrious class of people, there 
being a large sliaro of tiirifty, hard-working 
Scandinavians among them. 

Tlie first settle)' in this part of the county 
was Noah "Wliite, who located here in 1S57, 
but a year hiter moved over into Kandiyohi 
county. For several years thereafter there 
were none to settle here until in 1861, when 
tiie following named came and took claims 
and founded homes — Nils DanielsonUpsaal, 
Peter Peterson, Oscar Pliillips, Berger An- 
derson, Andrew Dakken, Soren Morton, C. 
L. Hanson, Ole Solomonson, Nels Mattson, 
O. K. Nelson, Bethel Gunderson and William 
Hanson. Most of these still have their homes 
here, and have Ijrought their farms to a high 
state of cultivation and beautifully improved 
them. 

No more settlers came in here until after 
the Indian outbreak, or, in fact, until about 
the close of the late war. 

Prominent among the older residents of 
the town who, although not early settlers, 
still have done much toward its development, 
are the following — Daniel Danielson, Hans 
H. Johnson, John Murphy, John Johnson, 
John Henderson, Henry Solomonson, John 
Ogren, Isaac Johnson, P. C. Hanson, Cliris- 
tian Hanson, Christian and Lars Easmusson, 
Otho Phihps, Lars Hanson, P. C. Finelius, 
Charles Finelius, L. P. Frederickson, Nels 
Frederickson, Jens Hink, Lewis Johnson, 
Andrew Dahl, Peter Elberg, John Brown, 
Paul Nelson, Hans Falk, John Eklund, 
Christian Nelson, Andrew Ogren, Peter 
Thorenson, Christian Thorenson, Henry 
Philips, Andrew Swan, Charles Johnson and 
Peter Mortenson. 

The first birth in the town was that of 
Arnt, the son of C. L. Hanson, who was born 
November 13, 18GG. 

The first death was that of Arnt, the son 
of C. L. Hanson, who died June Ifi, 1868. 



The first marriage was that which united 
the lives of O. K. Nelson and Miss Mary 
Danielson, in 18G8. 

Tiie first school was taugiit by Miss Lizzie 
Martin, in 1869. 

The pioneer religious meeting was lield in 
the scliool-house, on section 2, in 1869. 

Tlie first church in the town was named 
Arnt Dalil, l)eing a combination of the names 
of the first person to die in the town, Arnt 
Hanson, and tlie name of the minister, Ilev. 
Mr. Dahl. 

Danielson was for some years a part of a 
precinct composed of the towns of Swede 
Grove, Acton and Danielson, but March 12, 
1872, it was set off and organized with its 
present boundaries. Among those prominent 
in the organization were the following named : 
Daniel Danielson, who was elected clerk; 
Ole K. Nelson, chairman of the town board ; 
O. Solomonson and C. Fernelius, supervis- 
ors; Berger Anderson, treasurer; C. L. 
Hanson, justice; Daniel Danielson, assessor, 
and Lars liasmusson, constable. 

Tlie present oiRcers are — Supervisors, Eme- 
lius Nelson, chairman, 'Wiiliam Nelson and 
Lewis Peterson; clerk, Peter Mortenson; 
treasurer, L. P. Sorenson ; justices, Alfred 
Johnson and J. B. Dahl ; constables, J. P. 
Hanson and August Nelson ; overseers of 
highways, S. Morton, J. K. Brown, Frank 
Holmgren, August Nelson ; assessor, Jens 
Hink. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

LITCHFIELD TOWNSHIP. 

^HE territory known as Litchfield 
township is in the third tier from 
y the north line of the county, and 
the second from the western bounelary. It 
embraces all of congressional township 118 
north of range 31 west, and contains about 




MEEKER COUATTY, MINNESOTA. 



571 



24,407 acres, 2,895 of which are covered with 
water, and about a like extent with timber. 
The prairie land is mostly higli and suf- 
ficiently undulating and rolling to afford 
ample drainage, and add to its picturesque- 
ness and adaptability for tlie uses of agricul- 
ture. There are several beautiful lakes 
within the limits of this subdivision of the 
county, the largest and most important of 
which is Lake Kipley, on the edge of the cor- 
porate village of Litchfield. This lovely 
sheet of water was named in honor of Dr. 
Frederick N. Ripley, one of the earliest set- 
tlers of the county, who was frozen to death 
near its banlcs in the winter of lS55-'56, as 
detailed elsewhere. 

The first settlement of this township was 
made in Jul}^ 1850, by a party of Norwegian 
emigrants, who had moved hither from Rock 
county, Wis. Their names were Ole Halver- 
son Ness, Henry Ilalverson, Ole Halverson 
Thon, Amos Nelson Fosen, Nels Hanson 
Colberg- and Gunder Olson. Ness, Halver- 
son and Thon had families, which they 
brought with them ; the others were, at the 
time, single men. The entire party took up 
claims and settled in the southwest part of 
the township, one of the most picturesque 
localities in the county. 

Among the other settlers of the year 1856 
may be named the following : William Ben- 
son, Swen and Nels Swenson, Michael Len- 
hardt, Ferdinand, Christian, Frederick and 
Wilham Cook. 

In 1857 quite a number found homes in 
this town. Some are here still, a portion 
have moved away, and others have been 
called away by death. The names of the 
settlers of this year are — Bengt Hanson, John 
Larson, and his four sons, Nels, Andrew, 
Peter E. and Lewis ; Hogen Peterson, Thorl- 
son J. Cornelius, Ole Amundson, Nels Dan- 
ielson, Kittel Haroldson, Henry J. Johnson, 
Ole Kittelson, Jesse V. Branham, Sr., and 
his sons, Jesse V., Jr., William and Edward; 



Oscar Erickson, Nels Clements, Ola John- 
son, and Louis and Maximillian Cook. 

Among the settlers of 1858 were the fol- 
lowing named — Iver Jackson, Bengt Nelson, 
John and Thomas McGannon. No more 
can be named b\' the old settlers, \vho were 
interviewed, but there possibly may have 
been one or two more. Times were hard 
during these years, and all suffered many 
privations, and nearly all were glad of any 
shelter, even if no better than a "dugout." 
Money was almost an unknown quantity, at 
the time, but in spite of the drawbacks and 
discouragements of those early days those 
who have remained have reaped their reward 
in their fine farms and elegant homes. The 
town now has a population of 1,100 people, 
outside of the village of Litchfield, which is 
situated within its borders. 

The first house in the township was the 
log cabin of Henry Ilalverson, built in the 
summer of 1856. 

The first birth was that of Ole T., son of 
Henry Halverson, who was born December 
11, 1856. He is the first male child born in 
the county. 

The first death was that of Dr. Frederick 
N. Ripley, who froze to death on the banks 
of Lake Ripley, March 3, 1 856. 

The first barn built was that of Ole H. 
Ness, who lived in it during the first sum- 
mei', his house not being finished until win- 
ter. 

The pioneer church services were held at 
the residence of Ole H. Ness, in the fall of 
1858, by Rev. AYm. Frederickson, a minister 
of the Norwegian Church, from Goodhue 
county, this State. 

The first school was taught by John Black- 
well in 1860, at the house of Ole II. Ness, 
who employed and paid the teacher. 

The first school meeting was held at the 
house of Mr. Ness, December 7, 1861, at 
which Amos Nelson Fosen was chairman, 
and John Blackwell, clerk. The first direc- 



572 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



tors chosen were Thomas McGannon, Ivittle 
Hai'oldson ami Ole Ilalverson Ness. 

The Imihliiigof the first school-house was 
commenced in the summer of 1862, on the 
farm of (). II. Ness, but on account of the 
Indian troubles was not finished until some 
time after the war. A substantial brick edi- 
fice, used for the same ]iurpose, marks the 
site of the original l)uil(ling. 

This to\v)i was originally a portion of 
Hound Lake townshiji, but seems to have 
been known also as liipley, from the lake of 
that name; but no record of such exists. 
On the .5th of April, 1858, the board of 
County Commissioners ordered its organiza- 
tion under the name of Ness, after O. H. 
Ness, one of its oldest settlers. It continued 
to bear that name until 1869, when, on a 
petition of its citizens, the name was changed 
to its present form. The officers of the town 
in 1888, are the following named : Super- 
visors, John Rodange, Bengt Hanson, and 
G. B. Strobeck ; town clerk, Aaron Lied- 
holm ; treasurer, A. J. Kevell ; justice of the 
peace, J. II. Bacon ; assessor, AV. II. Dart ; 
constable, G. S. Sholes ; road ovei'seers, An- 
drew Mattson, Peter II. Petei'son, John Chil- 
strom, Peter Mortenson, Swan Swanson ; 
poundmaster, H. M. Angler. 



-«- 



CHAPTER XYIII. 

COSMOS TOWNSHIP. 

LL OF tiie territory technically 
^ known as townshi]), 117 north of 
range 32 west, is embraced in one 
civil town under the name of Cosmos, and 
contains an area equivalent to 23,030 acres, 
but 542 acres of which are covered with the 
waters of the numerous lakes that stud its 
surface. The land, which is a low lying 
level prairie, is susceptible of high culture, 
and excellent authority claims for it a high 




degree of adajitabdity for wheat raising. 
The soil is a kindly, warm and quick, black 
loam, and wonderfully suited to the growth 
of all indigenous grasses, and hence, this is 
an excellent place for stock raising. 

The jiioneer settler in Cosmos was Daniel 
Jackman, who first came here in 1867, and 
made a claim upon which he settled, with his 
family, in May, 1868. 

The same season the following named made 
their appearance here, and, taking home- 
steads, settled : John Jameson, Isaac Laj'- 
ton, Hans H. Hanson, Iver H. Thompson, 
Ole K. Nelson, Ole Olson, H. W. Young, 
Daniel Hoyt, Edward Chamberlain, Ezra 
Mathews, Nelson Eddy, J. M. McDonald and 
Orrin A. Phelps. 

The settlers of 1S69 were the following 
named : Samuel Hutchinson, C. H. Ducker- 
ing, Elisha L. Grindall, Christian Ilalvorson, 
Albert Amermen, J. T. Royce, Thomas 
Royce, A. B. Watson, Ralph D. Waterman, 
Lewis Ilalverson and John Rastus. 

The first birth in the town was that of a 
daughter of Samuel Hutchinson, born Janu- 
ary 18, 1-871. 

The first boy was born March 27, 1871, 
child of WiUard C. Amerman, and was 
named Albert. 

The first tleath was that of John T. Royce, 
who died K\W\\ 16, 1871. 

The first marriage was that of Ole K. Nel- 
son and Miss ]\rai-y Danielson in 1S69. 

The first school was taught in the spring 
of 1870, at the house of J. T. Royce, with 
Miss Lily Cathcart as the teacher. The first 
school-house was built in 1871, and in this 
structure Miss Nellie Barrack was the 
pioneer instructor. 

The first wlieat crop raised in the town 
was by Isaac Layton and H. W. Young, in 
1868. They also did the first breaking. 

The first house was built by t). Jackman, 
in the summer of 1868. 

Tlie first I'eligious services were held by 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



573 



Rev. Mr. Kennedy, a Methodist divine, in 
1S73, at the scliool-howse above mentioned. 

In 1S74 a postoffice was established in the 
town, under the name of Cosmos, with John 
A. Jameson as postmaster. Two j'ears hiter 
he was succeeded by Isaac L.ayton, and in 
1S7S, Daniel Jackman was commissioned. 
The latter held the position until 1S80, when 
he resigned, and Mrs. Jackman was appointed 
postmistress. 

The town was duly organized January 25, 
1870, at a meeting held at the house of Dan- 
iel Jackman. The first officers were D. 
Jackman, chairman, and John Jameson and 
Albert Amerman, supervisors ; Daniel Hoyt, 
clerk; J. II. Thompson, treasurer; D. Jack- 
man, assessor; Oren Phelps and E. M. Ma- 
thews, justices. At this election the total 
number of votes cast was but nine. The 
present (1888) officers are the following- — 
Supervisors, J. A. Town (chairman), F. A. 
Twombly and Peter Hanson ; clerk, Daniel 
Jackman; treasurer, C. A. Oilman; asses- 
sor, Daniel Jackman ; constable, Frank 
Twombly ; justice of the peace, C. A. Gil- 
man ; road overseers. Daniel Jackman, C. 
A. Gilnian, Daniel Cashman, John M. iKel- 
son. 



-■*- 



CIIAPTEPt XIX. 

UNION GROVE TOWNSHIP. 

^HAT portion of Meeker county em- 
braced within the boundaries of 
Congressional townsliip 121, north 
of i-ange 32 west, is known as the town of 
Union Grove. It is one of the most beauti- 
ful in the county, the surface being diversi- 
fied by alternate prairie and timber. It con- 
tains 23,025.25 acres within its limits, 706.26 
of which are covered by the waters of the 
lakes and rivers that add loveliness to the 
apjiearance of tiie country. The soil, a 






warm, sandy loam, is wonderfully fertile, 
and in quickness of growth is not surpassed 
in the county. 

The pioneer settlement here was made in 
1856, by Lyman Allen, Andrew Hamilton, 
Lyman Baker and Mr. Haywood. 

In the same year, also, settlements were 
made by James Hamilton, S. H. Caswell, 
James Nelson, Cyrus Lewis, John W. Good- 
speed, Mr. Brawn, Alonzo Cook, S. Dickin- 
son, Judson Pierson and William "Wheeler. 

Those who found homes in this part of the 
county in 1857 were the following : Thomas 
Ryckman, Jeremiah Leaming, Moody Cas- 
well, Alonzo M. Caswell, Albert Caswell, 
Charles and AVilmot Maybee, James A. Lee, 
James Shears. AVilliam Wilcox, Albert 
Bridges, Florinda Bryant, AVilliam Rodgers. 

D. B. Hoar was also an old settler here. 

From the year 1857 until after the Indian 
outbreak, but few came to this part of the 
county to make a settlement, and most of 
those, leaving during those exciting times, 
never to return, have passed out of the mem- 
ory of the residents. The details regarding 
many of these will be found in the l)io- 
graphical department. 

Among the first events that happened in 
this subdivision of the county were the fol- 
lowing : 

The first marriage was that of James Nel- 
son and Miss Elizabeth Caswell, April 15, 
18.57. 

The first birth is believed to have l)een 
that of the son of the above parties, born 
in 1858. His name is William Xelson. 

The first school was taught in a small log 
cabin owned by Nathan Caswell, in 1859, by 
Miss Mary Caswell, now Mrs. Gould. 

The first school-house was erected in 1867, 
on the southwest quarter of section 24, and 
Miss Yina McXabb was the first teacher 
there. 

The first religious services were held at the 
house of Thomas Rvckman in 1865, b\' the 



574 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Rev. George Hardy. The Rev. Mr. Gris- 
wold, a Metliodist divine from St. Cloud, 
held regular services in the school-house 
above mentioned during ISOG. 

Baker, Allen and Lewis were the tirst to 
raise a crop of wheat. 

The first death was that of Mrs. Hannah 
B. Caswell, in January, 1859. 

The town was organized at a meeting held 
at the house of Tiiomas Ryckman, April 30, 
1886. At that time C. D. Hill was chosen 
chairman of the meeting ; C. W. Putiier, 
George W. Hardy, and David Newcomb, 
judges of election ; Ciiarles H. McCune, clerk. 
It was voted to hold the next election at the 
house of Thomas Ryckman, and also to raise 
the sum of two dollai's h\ tax, to pay Mrs. 
Ryckman for cleaning up after them. The 
officers elected were as follows — Lucien J. 
Perry, chairman, and A. T. Rentier and 
David Newcomb, supervisors ; C. H. Mc- 
Cune, clerk ; A. T. Rentier, assessor ; C. "W. 
Puther and G. AV. Hardy, justices; James 
Nelson and AVilliam Stockdale, constables, 
and S. O. Cajfipbeli, treasurer. 

The officers for 1888 are as follows — Super- 
visors. Ole M. Johnson (chairman), John 
Hunter, Jr., and J. W. Torrey ; clerk, O. B. 
Vose ; treasurer, D. B. Hoar ; justices of the 
peace, Jeremiah Learning and Solomon R. 
Wright ; assessor, C. A. Merrill ; constable, 
T. J. Barrie. 



-«" 



-<►• 



CHAPTER XX. 

FOREST PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP. 

*HE town of Forest Prairie lies in 
the extreme northern part of the 
l^ county, and is technically known 
as township 121, north of range 30 west. It 
comprises 2?,807 acres of surface, 51:2.47 
acres of which arc, however, covered by the 
waters of the several lakes. It is situated 
in a portion of "The Big "Woods," and much 




of it is still covered by the primeval growth 
of "century-old"' timber. In this, the indus- 
trious hand of the sturdy pioneer has cleared 
up farms, and tlie soil, thus denuded of its 
leafy covering, is of a wonderful richness and 
fertility. In its pristine state there was not 
one acre of prairie in it, but it was entirely 
covered by trees, hence the late date of its 
settlement, the earlier pioneers prefering to 
take up their homes and till the soil of the 
prairie, already fitted to their hands. 

The pioneers of this part of the county 
were Merritt B. Case, Charles T. Grote and 
James Ilooser, who came in LSiiH, and here 
found the homes they sought. They learned 
that " here, too, lands could be had for the 
asking, and forests of timber with a few 
blows of the axe were hewn and framed into 
houses," and in the primitive structures 
thus erected settled down to the hard labor 
of clearing the heavy timber off the land, and 
opening up farms in the " forest primeval." 
Following them came R. K. Beecham. Hiram 
Bentley, Benjamin F. S]iaukling, Perry D. 
Bentley, Charles F. Spaulding, Monroe Ab- 
bott, the widow Waldron and her son Syl- 
vester, George Smith, J. W. Polk, M. J. 
Roach, William Keilty, John Mayer, Sidney 
Webb, Sidney Scribner, J. S. Reynolds and 
a few others, who also settled in the " Big 
Woods." 

Among the more prominent arrivals of the 
year 1867, in what is now Forest Prairie 
townshij), were the following named, most of 
whom iierinanentlv located here — W. D. 
Stores, H.R.Williams, Casper Hawkinberry, 
Peter Keilty. Stephen Cornwell, Dennis 
Monroe, Daniel Duffy, William Wertz, Aus- 
tin Brower and quite a number of others, for 
as soon as the way was led to these leafy 
shades, the tide of immigration followed fast, 
and quite a number of claims were taken 
chat summer. The hard and laborious work 
of clearing off the umbrageous covering, the 
digging and grubbing out the roots, iiad long 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



575 



deterred the settlers from opening up these 
lands, but with the close of the war, another 
class of immigrants came. These were the 
sturdy woodsmen from the forests of Indi- 
ana, Ohio, Kentucky and A'irginia, and these 
preferred the timber lands. Their untiring 
energy has brought its reward, and their 
thrift has enabled many of thena to advance 
themselves well toward an easy competence. 

Eli Boring and Christian and Joseph Vos- 
sen were among those who settled here in 
1868. 

The first birth within the limits of the 
town is believed to have been that of twin 
children, born to Mr. and Mrs. George Smith, 
in the fall of 186(5. 

The death of the first white person was 
that of Mrs. George Smith, whose decease 
took place some time in the fall of 1866. 

The first school was taught by Mrs. James 
Hooser, on section 26, in the summer of 1868. 

The town was duly organized July 10, 
1867, at which time the following named 
took a jn'ominent part in the proceedings: 
M. B. Case, C. T. Grote, James Hooser, B. 
K. Beecham, C. F. Spaulding and nearly all 
the settlers at that time within tlie limits of 
the subdivision of the county. 

The present officers are as follows : Super- 
visors, J. T. Ilagan (chairman), James Brower 
and Theodore Ackerman ; clerk, Wm. M. 
Abbott ; treasurer, Michael Hesse ; assessor, 
A. R. Fisher ; constable, C. F. Spaulding ; 
justice of the peace, M. J. McCarthy ; road 
overseers, John Ilarjjer, J. T. Hagan, Stephen 
Feucker, Thomas Casey, John Boden, H. R. 
"Williams, A. R. Fisher, Joseph Teller, Thos. 
Keilty, Nick Bauer, Peter Pagan, Louis 
Wertzburg, Martin Thelan and A. R. Vossen. 

The village of AYatkins was laid out by 
Danville D. Spaulding, Alonzo Spaulding and 
the railroad company in June, 1887, and the 
plat filed for record August 22, of the same 
year. It is located upon the east half of the 
nortliwest quarter of the southeast quarter, 



and the west half of the northeast quarter of 
the southeast quarter of section 2. 

Owing to its youth there is but little busi- 
ness doing there as yet. 

Joseph Vossen and A. D. Spaulding were 
the pioneer merchants commencing here 
before the inception of the village in 1887. 
Six months later Mr. Vossen bought out his 
partner, and now runs it alone. This, the 
lumber yard and grain warehouse constitute 
the business of the place, but it may gi'ow to 
considerable importance in the future, as its 
location is an excellent one. 




This 



CHAPTER XXI. 

ACTON TOWNSHIP. 

MOST beautiful and picturesque 
^ part of Meeker county is com- 

xi^. prised within the limits of Acton. 

subdivision lies in the center of the 
western tier of townships, and embraces all 
of Congressional township 119 north of 
range 32 west. Lakes and ponds inter- 
spersed with groves of timber and openings 
of prairie, the diversity of the landscape is 
its chief beauty, while the excellence of the 
soil doubtless attracted the earlier settlers' 
attention, as well as the loveliness of the 
surroundings. It contains 10,842 acres of 
arable and timber land, and an area equal to 
3,130 acres of water, and is noted for the 
fertility of the rich, dark, sandy loam that 
covers its surface. 

The first settlers in this garden spot were 
Peter J. Lund, Nels Waylander, and Jessa 
Winquist, three Swedes, who came here 
earl}^ in 1857, and took up their residence. 
Mr. Lund settled on section 4, where he 
made his home for a numi)er of years, but is 
now living west of Grove City. Waylander 
lives in the village, and Winquist resides on 
his oriffinal claim. 



576 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



During tlie same year tliere were several 
otliei's who found lionies in this town, aniono- 
■whom were the following named : Jolin and 
Peter Eitchie, Eobinson Jones. Howard 
Baker, Airs. Ann P>aker, Ahram Kelley. John 
Blackwell, Cajjtain Robinson, and Joim 
"Wiiiqnist. 

Among the few that located here between 
that time and the jieriod of the Indian 
massacre were Mathias Paulson, Paul M. 
Paulson, in 1859, and Peter, and John P. 
Johnson and Ole Larson, in 1861. 

The fearful tragedy, known as the Indian 
outbreak, commenced in this town, as is de- 
tailed at full length in the history of the 
massacre in this volume. Isot only did all 
the survivors of that bloody Sabbath flee the 
country, but for sevei-al years only few came 
here to take their place, nor did they return. 

Among the settlers of tiie next ten years, 
who have so materially assisted toward the 
development and upbuilding of the town and 
the develojiment of its resources, may be 
mentioned the following named — John Blom- 
berg, August Davidson, Hans Cristoferson, 
Thomas Johnson, John Lnnke, Bersvend 
Thorp, Lars Christianson, (). P. Draxten, 
Peter Brandt, Sever Johnson, P. O. Eiden, 
Ole P. Eiden, Ole Peterson, O. M. Linnell, Ole 
P. O. Engen, John Syng, and P. M. Peterson. 

The first birth was that of a son of Peter 
Eitchie, which occurred in 1859. 

The first school was taught at the house of 
Nels Waylander, on section 4, in 1859, by a 
man by the name of Algreen. 

The ]>ioneer religious services were held at 
the same cabin in 1858, by Eev. John Eob- 
son, a Methodist divine. 

As to the first death and first marriage 
there are numerous opinions, and the com- 
mittee could not decide, as many of the 
older settlors have left this part of the county, 
and exact liates can not be given. 

Acton was set off and organized in April, 
1858, and then embraced all the territory 



now constituting the town of Danielson and 
the south half of Swede Grove, besides its 
present jurisdiction. 

Nearly all the settlers here at the time 
took an active part in the matter, and much 
interest was manifested in the outcome. 

The officers of the town for the current 
year (1888) are the following named : Nels 
Waylander, chairman of the town board ; 
O. T. 0. Lee and J. P. Berg, supervisors ; O. 
M. Linnell, clerk ; Nels A. Draxten, treas- 
urer ; John Paulson, assessor, and Peder Pet- 
terson Swenaas, justice of the peace. 

TUE VILLAGE OF GROVE CITY. 

Grove City was laid out and platted by 
the St. Paul & Pacific Eailroad Company, on 
the northeast quarter of section 3, of this 
township, in the summer of 1870, the plat of 
which was filed for record with the county 
register of deeds, August 26, 1870. One ad- 
dition has since been added to the original 
site bv the same corporation, the plat of 
whicii was filed September 11, 1877. 

Among the. very first settlers of the village 
were Olaf Levander, A. P. Nelson, Swan 
Hokanson, George Okeson, Mark W. Piper, 
A. S. "Wilcox, Andrew Okeson and E. P. 
Eklund. 

The first dwelling-house on the site of the 
new village was erected by Olaf Levander, in 
the spring of 1870. About the same time a 
house was put u]> by the railroad company 
for the section hands, and the next one was 
built by Swan Hok.anson. 

The business life of the village commenced 
the fall of 1869, when Ilines, Kimball & 
Beedy, of Kingston, ])ut uj) a store building 
and opened a stock of genei'al merchandise, 
uniler the charge of M. W. Piper. Two years 
afterward this was sold to W. "W. Hobbs, 
who finally died, when the pro]>erty was ])ur- 
chased bv Nels Luberg, and the goods by 
Nels Elofson ; the latter closed them out 
shortlv after. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



577 



The second store was opened in 1870, by 
Larson & Dahlquist. A year or two after, 
Louis Larson purchasing his partner's inter- 
est, became sole proprietor, and thus operated 
it for three years, and then closed out the 
goods and moved to Atwatei'. 

0. H. Peterson started a store in 1876, and 
in Jul}', 1878, was succeeded by Peterson, 
Nelson & Co. This firm was succeeded, on 
the death of Mr. Peterson, by Dudley & Nel- 
son, and in their hands it remained some 
three j'ears. I. Hooper then became a part- 
ner, but was bought out again, and A. P. 
Nelson disposed of his mterest to O. L. Dud- 
ley, who, in turn, sold out the business. 
Eeitan & Christensen are the present propri- 
etors. 

The pioneer blacksmith shop was put uji by 
E. P. Eklund, in the fall of 1869, and he still 
carries on the business. 

The first hotel, which was known as the 
Swede Grove House, was erected bv Louis 
Olson in 1874, and run by him until his 
death ; afterward his widow rented it to M. 
J. Paulson. The latter purchased the prop- 
erty in 1879, and continued the landlord of 
the Grove House, for he ciianged its name, 
until the spring of 1888, when he leased it to 
S. D. Kingstrom, the present host. 

The business of the place is represented by 
the following firms : Reitau & Christensen, 
general merchandise; O. N. Lindell, hard- 
ware and furniture; Fenstad ik: Grinsgard, 
general merchandise; A. O. Lawson & Co., 
clothing and general merchandise; M. A. 
Brown, general merchandise ; A. J. Florin, 
boots and shoes ; Hans Norgood, boots and 
shoes; Otto Dersch, agricultural implements, 
stock dealer, butcher siio]), flour and feed ; 
John Harstad, liarber and confectionary ; 
Olaf Jorgenson, harness; P. J. Malnupiist, 
E. P. Eklund and Ole B. Anderson, black- 
smitlis ; Bresden Ar Hawkinson, lumber; 
Eklund & Nelson, agricultural implements ; 
O. N. Lindell, drugs; Ole Palirson, Peter 



Redin, Nels Lagergren and Nels Elofson, 
saloons; E. N. Hanson, wheat buyer and 
flour depot ; Swen Hawkinson, jewelry, 
clocks, etc.; Dudle}' & Nelson, insurance ; 
and the three elevators of Dudley & Nelson, 
C. E. Sundberg and the Northwestern Eleva- 
tor Co. 

The village of Grove City was incorpora- 
ted as such, by an act of the State Legisla- 
ture, passed February 14, 1878. At that 
time tlie Secretary of State appointed C. J. 
Erickson, Nels Paulson and A. S. "Wilcox as 
commissioners to issue the notices for the 
first election, and to govern the balloting at 
the time. At this election there were chosen 
the following officers : A. S. "Wilcox, presi- 
dent of the village board ; Nels Paulson, 
recorder ; C. J. Erickson, treasurer ; and N. 
Loberg, C. C. Eeitan, and P. J. Malmquist, 
trustees. The first meeting of the new gov- 
ernment met March 1, 1878, when most of 
the officers were duly sworn in. The gov- 
ernment of the village is vested at present 
(spring of 1888) in the following gentle- 
men : O. N. Lindell, president ; P. J. Malm- 
quist, Otto Dersch and A. O. Lawson, 
trustees ; John N. Gaynor, recorder ; A. P 
Nelson, treasurer ; N. E. Hanson and N. 
Loberg, justices; and J. J. Hartstad and 
Olaf Ask, constables. C. C. Eeitan was 
president of the village board for three 
terms, Init prefers to eschew politics for the 
present. 

Grove City Lodge, No. 69, A. O. U. ^ ., of 
this village, was organized November 4, 1880, 
with the following named charter members: 
N. M. Holm, J. "W. Jamison, N. Paulson, C. 
M. Carlson. H. P. Stark, George T. McKin- 
ney, J. T. Ally, Olaf Levander, L. N. Lund, 
A. P. Nelson, P. N. Engstrom, A. "W. Lar- 
son, lion. O. M. Linnell, N. E. Hanson, C. E- 
Lindberg and John Christensen. On organ- 
ization, officers were chosen, of whom the 
following is the roll : N. M. Holm, P. "W. M.; 
N. Paulson, rec; H. P. Stark, fin.; N. E. 



578 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Hanson, receiver; J. W. Jamison, G.; P. N. 
Engstrom, I. W.; A. W. Larson, O. W. Tlie 
lodge is in a very healthy condition, and is 
one of the noble benevolent orders that are 
of so much benefit to the families of the 
members in cases of sickness and death. 
The present officers are: A. P. Nelson, P. 
M. W.; O. N. Lindell, M. W.; D. A. Roos, 
O.; N. N. Waylander, F.; J. N. Gaynor, R. ; 
C. C. Reitan, receiver ; A. O. Lawson, fin.; 
J. J. Harstad, G.; P. Paulson, I. W.; H. 
Simonson, O. W., and J. Christensen, D. D. 
G. M. W. 

There are three churches in the village, all 
having neat and tasty edifices for worship. 
They are the Swedish Baptist, Swedish 
Lutheran and the Norwegian Lutheran. 

The ])ostoffice, whicli is the old Swede 
Grove postoffice, brought to the village by 
Olaf Levander in 1870, has been presided over 
since his administration by Nels M. Holm, 
N. P. Olson, H. P. Stark and John Gaynor. 
The latter is tlie present incumbent of the 
office. 



<J^^-^> 



CHAPTER XXIL 



GREENLEAF TOWNSHIP. 



11 



^^HE sul)di vision of Meeker county, 



\'i) which takes its name from Hon. 
William H. Greenleaf, comprises 
all that tract of land known as congressional 
township lis, north range 31 west, and con- 
tains a total of 24,736.07 acres, 1,958.23 of 
which are covered with the waters of its 
lakes and streams, and 22,777.84 are fine 
arable land or e.xcellent timbered ground. 
The soil, like the entire county, is a fine, 
rich, dark, sandy loam, and peculiarly fertile 
and susceptible to a high state of cultivation. 
The pioneer settlers in this portion of the 
count}' were two men by the names of George 
Orcutt and JMr. Pratt, who located on the 



southwest cpiarter of section 35, in the sum- 
mer of 1850. They commenced to break up 
the land, and had got about three or four 
acres of the sod turned \vhen the Indians 
killed one of their oxen, which crippled their 
team, and growing discouraged thej' threw 
up the job in disgust and moved to Forest 
City, remaining in that village until the fol- 
lowing fall, when they left the county. 

The first pei-manent settlers were a family 
of brothers, AVilliam, Herman and Charles 
Kruger, natives of Germany, who came here 
in May, 1857, and located together on sec- 
tion 12. William is still a resident of the 
township, living on section 13; Herman is 
living near the village of Hutchinson, in 
McLeod county, and Charles makes his home 
in LeSueur county. 

After these, in 1857, there came to this 
portion of the county the following named 
settlers, who here found homes — George C. 
Whitcomb, Vincent Coombs, Milton Coombs 
and Jesse V. Branhara, Sr. 

The settlers of 1858-9 were John Sampson, 
John A. Sampson, Roland Angler, Hender- 
son M. Angler, Charles Allen, George Mc- 
Gowen, Jonathan Keach, Mr. Mathews, Ira 
Pratt, Sr., Ira Pratt, Jr., Silas Pratt, and 
Mr. Malloy. 

Of the settlers of the year 1860, most of 
them are still residents of their original 
claims, but some have removed from the 
county to pastures new, or have paid the debt 
of nature. They were as follows : Lewis 
Meagher, John McGraw, Patrick Manning, 
Michael Ilanley, Michael R3'an, Michael 
Carrigan, Pijtrick McCnnn, Thomas Reagan 
and Hans and Even Evenson, and others. 

After the Indian outbreak of 1862, for 
several years, emigration seemed to have 
ceased, but about 1865 it recommenced and 
has steadily filled up the countj- with a sturdy 
class of citizens that is rapidly developing 
its resources. Of those who have settled in 
Greenleaf since the massacre days, but are 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



579 



yet entitled to the distinction of old resi- 
dents are the following : John B. Pennoyer, 
Martin Spellicy, Hiram Delong, Martin 
Lawson, John T. Putzier, John Knack, 
Daniel Kevins, L. M. Johnson, Jacob Ander- 
son, J. William Johnson, Leonard lloman 
Johnson, J. A. Nystrom, C. M. Beckstrand, 
Olavius Hanson and Alexander Hanson. A 
great many of the pi'ominent citizens of this 
township are noticed at length in the bio- 
graphical department of this volume. 

The town of Greenleaf was organized as 
•a civil township, at a meeting held August 
27, 1859, and at that time embraced all the 
territory now known as ColUnwood, Ells- 
worth and Greenleaf, except the northern 
tier of sections whicli were attached to the 
town of Litchfield. At this organization 
the following named gentlemen took a prom- 
inent part : Dana E. King, George C. Whit- 
comb, W. H. Greenleaf, George McGowen, 
Jonathan Keach, T. H. Webb and Dr. Pus- 
sell AVhiteman. 

The present (1888) officers are : David 
Shepherd, chairman ; I^els B. Johnson and 
Alfred Anderson, supervisors ; Even Even- 
son, clerk ; John Spellic}', assessor ; Even 
Evenson, justice of the peace ; and C. W. 
Anderson and Ole Oleson, constables. 

The first death was most probably tiiat 
of Mrs. Kruger, the mother of the three 
Krugers, about 1859. 

The first school was held in the Manning 
neighborhood. 

The fii'st school-house was erected where 
the Swede church is now located, on section 
10, about 1868. This was a log structure, 
and in this Miss Viola Dart taught the first 
school. 

The first rehgious services were held at 
the house of John Sampson, in 1860, by Rev. 
Andrew Jackson. 

The BeckviUe Swedish Lutheran Church 
commenced with services held at the resi- 
dence of Erick Norelius, in 1859. Worship 



was held at various private houses and in the 
school-house, until 1873, when the present 
church edifice was erected. The first perma- 
nent pastor was the Rev: P. Backman, who 
settled here in 1869. 




CHAPTER XXIIL 
COLLINWOOD TOWNSHIP. 

*HE town which bears the above 
name, embraces all of Congression- 
ly al township 118, north of range 29, 
and is one of the most beautifullv ])icturescjue 
in the county. It has a surface area of 
over 2-1,000 acres, of which a portion is 
covered with the waters of the beautiful 
lakes that bestud its surface. It lies entirelv 
within the limits of the timber belt, and it is 
largely still in its primeval, wild state. 
Beautiful clearings, like isles in the sea of 
waving foliage, dot its surface, and the cot- 
tages of the settlers lend life to the picture. 

The first settler in this part of the county 
was Charles C. Dewing, in the fall of 1862. 
Although several claims had been made 
within its boundaries, previously one by Den- 
nis Felix, in January, 1858, and one by Levi 
Wilcox, in September, 1857. Neither of 
these settled here however. 

The next to take up homestead and settle 
here was Thomas Fallon, who filed his claim 
in Januarj', 186'1, and was followed in the 
summer and fall of the same year, by Jacob 
Hutchins, Thomas J. Hutchins, Jacob Blair, 
Elkanah McStotts, Alexander Ramey, Harri- 
son Fuller, Philip Van Blarrecom, Hawkins 
Steel, Oliver Rasnick, E. K. Counts, Canaan 
Counts, George Fuller, Swan Johnson, John 
Fosberg, David Parks, ISToah Parks, and 
Lazarus Parks. 

Most of these ])eople came from their 
native State, Virginia, and the town was 
know as New Virginia, previous even to its 
organization. 



580 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



During the year 1865, there was added 
quite a number to the popuhxtion of the 
town, nearly all of the same sturdy class of 
woodmen, wiio literally hewed out homes for 
themselves here. Their names were : Abra- 
ham Pancake, George Pancake, John Mc- 
Ivinne\', James Currington, Jasper Wright, 
Solomon H. AVriglit, AV. A. Wright, William 
Taylor, Charles Taylor, Jonathan Watson, 
David Taylor, Lemuel and John Dent}', An- 
drew Slujrtridge, Ei'in Kamsdell, George H. 
Watson, Jolmson Taylor, Abraham Risner, 
William J. Yates, Erick Larson, Amost 
Stage, K. M. Young, and John Acres. 

Among those who settled here shortly 
after this were tlie following named : Moses 
H. Bogar, Peter Anderson, Erick Stitiinson, 
T. H. Bogar, J. A. Quick, Taylor Johnson, 
George W. Clark, James Grant, S. Johnson, 
and others. 

The first death was that of Mrs. E. K. 
McStotts, who died in the fall of 1S65. 

The first marriage was that of John Tay- 
lor and Miss Elizabetli llutchins, in the fall 
of 1866. 

The first school was taught by E. K. 
Counts, during tiie winter of 1866-7, in what 
is now district 17, on the Van Blarrecom 
farm, on section IS. 

This was the first school-house built in the 
town, put up in the fall of 1866, the first 
school officers of the district being — Jacob 
Blair, clerk; E. K. McStotts, treasurer; and 
Jacobs Hutchins, director. 

The first religious services were held in 
what is now Steelsville, in the Grove, by the 
Pevs. William Maynard and James Sellards, 
two Baptist clergymen, in 1867. The first 
church organized was that of the Methodists, 
who formed a class in the fall of 1868, with 
J. A. Quick, as class-leader, and George 
Fuller as steward. The fii-st ])astor was 
George D. Potter. This church is still in 
existence, and John A. (^uick is still the 
classleader. 



The town was organized as New Virginia 
in the spring of 1866, with the following 
officers elected — E. K. ]\[cStotts, chairman, 
and Canaan Counts and Hawkins Steel, 
supervisors; E. K. Counts, town clerk; Jacob 
llutchins, treasurer; Jacob Blair, assessor; 
Oliver Pasnick, justice; and ILarrison Fuller, 
constable. 

The name of the town was changed 
throngh tJie influence of IL C. Bull and 
otliers to its present name, '■ Collinwood," in 
1868. 

The officers for the present year are the 
following named — Supervisors, Oscar Peter- 
son (chairman). Matt Anderson, Swan Cervin; 
clerk, Peter Sangreen ; treasurer, Erik Dahl- 
man ; assessor. Matt. DeLong ; justices, John 
A. Quick and G. O. Bailey; constable, Will- 
iam Adams. 

A village was laid out in 1866, on the 
shores of Lake Collinwood, by H. C. Bull, 
an eastern man, and called Collinwood, in 
which David Parks was the pioneer mer- 
ciiant. Bull and Taylor followed soon after 
in the same line of trade. David Parks put 
up a saw-mill which he sold to Pendergast 
Bros., and by them was moved away about 
1876. The latter parties also erected and 
ran a grist-mill, but it, too, has ceased run- 
ning. A postoffice was also establislied with 
IL C. Bull as postmaster. He was succeeded 
by L. G. Pendergast, and various other 
parties, but finallj' the whole thing was aban- 
doned. 

Bonniwell's mill was erected in 1870, by 
Geoi'ge Bonniwell and his nephew Charles, 
who purchased the water power and site of 
Lloyd and William Pendergast. This was 
operated by them and by George Bonniwell 
alone until June, 1887, when it was destroyed 
by fire. 

Jewett's mill, built by G. R. Jewett, in 
1867, on section 7. This is a saw and grist- 
mill combined, and still ojierated by Mr. 
Jewett. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



581 




CHAPTEE XXIV. 

TOWNSHIP OF ELLSWORTH. 

ONGRESSIONAL township 118, 
north of range 3U west, is known 
'as the civil town of Ellsworth. It 
comprises some 23,019 acres ; 18,494 acres 
are either fine, arable prairie, oak openings, 
or covered with timber; 4,525 acres of its 
sui'face are included in the beautiful lakes 
which dot its bosom. It was named in honor 
of that gallant hero. Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, 
who was so ruthlessly murdered at Alexan- 
dria, Va., in the spring of 1861, for defend- 
ing his fiag from insult. Tiie soil, a quick, 
warm, sandy loam, is remarkalily fertile, and 
the return to the husbandman ample. The 
chief product is wheat, of tlie best quality 
of the much sought after hard variety. 

The pioneer settler in tins town was Dr. 
V. P. Kennedy, now^ a resident of the coun- 
ty seat, who came here in June, 1856, and 
took tlie land formerly claimed by Dr. F. N. 
Pipley. He made his residence here for a 
number of years previous to his removal to 
Litchfield. 

The others who made settlements in what 
is now Ellsworth, during the year 1856, 
were — Thaddeus E. Webb, James Barrett, 
Dr. Eussell "Whiteman, and ))ossibly one or 
two others. 

Like all who pioneer the way for advanc- 
ing emigration, these hardy men and their 
families were called upon to endure many 
privations, such as is incident to life upon 
the frontier. Their nearest market was St. 
Paul, a hundred miles distant, by the rude 
road of the period, and the smallness of 
their crops gave them but little to purchase 
with when tliey reached that cit}'. 

In 1858, there came to this subdivision of 
the county, the following named, who found 
homes here — James Fallon, John M. Mous- 
ley, Alfred Mousley, John Hurley, W. II. 



Greenleaf, Dana E. King, and a man by the 
name of Hook. 

In 1859 and 1860, there were but few to 
seek homes in what is now Ellsworth town- 
ship, the financial panic of 1857 having for 
a time put a stop to all, or nearly all, immi- 
gration. Among the few who did dare to 
come west in those years and locate here, 
Avere the following named : George 
McGowen, Ira Pratt, Sr., Ira Pratt, Jr., 
Silas Pratt and Mr. Mathews. 

Tiie Indian outbreak of the fall of 1862, 
depopulated this town, along with the 
balance of the county. For a little while 
thereafter, there were but few within its 
limits, l)ut it has gradual^ filled up, how- 
ever, until now it has a respectably large 
population of sturdy farmers. 

The first birth in Ellsworth occurred in 
1857, and was that of a child born to Dr. 
Eussell Whiteman. 

The second births and first deaths in the 
village, were those of Frankie and Fred, the 
twin babies of Hon. AV. II. Greenleaf, whose 
birth and death occurred in 1860. 

The next time that the angel of death came 
to this locality, was in 1862, when Mr. Hal- 
stead died. 

The first school-house, was the one erected 
in 1859, and in which Lydia Angier taught 
the first sessioii. 

Ellsworth township was for years a por- 
tion of the town of Greenleaf, but on the 1st 
of September, 1868, it was organized as a 
separate civil township, under its present 
name. At the first election therein, most of 
the residents took an active part. The pres- 
ent officers are as follows — Supervisors: 
Eudolph Krussow (chairman), Jonathan Mc- 
Stotts and D. Barret ; assessor, Ira Gleason ; 
clerk, N. Y. Taylor; treasurer, Eudolph 
Leverence ; justices, John Vogelpohl and L. 
L. Sisson ; constables, D. F. Smith and Wm. 
Christoph. 



582 



MEEKER COUNTY, MIXXESOTA. 



GREENLEAF VILLAGE. 

Tlie village of (xreenleaf was laid out and 
platted by Dana E. King, in 1859, and the 
plat filed for record on the 3d of Septemljer 
of that year. Shortly after this W. H. 
Greenleaf, A. C. Smith and Bennett M. 
Brink acquired an interest in the town site 
by purchase. The village plat was situated 
upon the southwest quarter of the southwest 
quarter, the southwest quarter of the south- 
east quarter, and lots 5 and 6, of section 30, 
and contained a mill site and water-power. 

Previous to the laying out of the town, in 
the fall of 1858, William II. Greenleaf and 
Dana E. King came here, and ^he former, 
finding a mill site, went back to Wisconsin, 
and, purchasing the machinery for a saw- 
mill, returned the same fall with Bennett M. 
Brink, and the two in company erected the 
saw-mill and improved the water-power. 
Around this mill sprang up the little settle- 
ment which bore the name of Greenleaf. 
atter the founder of the leading industry of 
the place. Dana E. King returned in 1S59, 
and laid out the town as above mentioned, 
having preempted the land. In 1859 Jud- 
son A. Brink came to the embryo village, 
and here made his residence until 186-1, when 
he returned to New York State, from which 
he had come, where he died of consumption 
at a later date. Greenleaf and Brink oper- 
ated the mill from December, 1858, until the 
spring of 1862, when Judson A. Brink pur- 
chased the interest of Mr. Greenleaf, and the 
two brothers ran the mill in partnership until 
1861:. Steam was then put in and its owners 
continued its operation until three years 
plater, when they removed the machinery 
some few miles into the woods. It was after- 
Avard removed to the village of Dassel. 

In 1862, on closing out his interest in the 
mill, W. H. Greenleaf put up a store build- 
ing, and opened a stock of hardware and 
groceries. This was the first attempt toward 



mercantile life in the village, and was, like 
everything else in the county, interrupted 
by the dreadful Indian outbreak of the 
autumn of 1862. In March, 186-1-, Mr. 
Greenleaf returned here and put in a stock 
of general mercluunlise. A short time after 
this he took into partnership C. B. Jordan, 
but, two months afterwai'd, sold out to his 
]iartner. The latter gentleman ran the store 
for some years, but subsequently disposed of 
it to John Rank, who ran it for some time. 

One year after selling out, W. H. Green- 
leaf erected the second store building, and in 
it opened with another stock of the same gen- 
eral character. This establishment he sold 
out to L. S. Weymouth, who carried on the 
business until 1884. 

Anderson opened the third store here in 
1868, and ran it for one year. These were 
all the mercantile establishments of the 
place. Miss Sophia C. Pratt, the present 
postmistress of the village, is also the present 
merchant, and carries an extensive stock of 
general merchandise. 

A flouring mill was erected in the sum- 
mer of 1862, by Dana E. King and Judson A. 
Brink, but its construction and equipment 
having been interrupted bj' the Indian 
troubles, it was not in running order until 
186-I-. This manufacturing institution, which 
was a large and well-constructed building, 
with three run of stone, was shortly after 
sold to Xorman Pixley and Albert Delong, 
who ran it in partnership until 1873. Mr. 
Pixley then sold out to his copartner, who 
admitted to the firm J. R. JNlcDonald, and 
under this management the mill remained 
for a time. Finally, as the investment did 
not pay, it was sold to Mr. Leiser, who tore 
it down and removed it bodily to Traverse 
county, this State, about the year 1879. 

The United States Land Office, which had 
formerly been located at Forest City, was re- 
moved to Greenleaf in 1866, at which time 
Dr. Fletcher was the receiver, and B. F. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



583 



Baker the register. This office remained in 
the village until in December, 1869, when 
the growing importance of the railroad town 
of Litchfield, the new county seat, attracted 
nearly everything else in the county, and tlie 
office was moved to that place. 

A seminary was started in the village in 
1867, with Rev. W. 0. Harding as principal 
and Miss Todd as assistant. On account of 
the sparsely settled condition of the country 
at that time, this institution of learning, 
which was ablycondiicted, could not be made 
a success, and only existed for some two 
3'ears, when it was abandoned for want of 
sufficient support. 

The first school was taught in the village 
in 1859, by Miss Lj'dia Angier. This was 
the first district school in the town of Ells- 
worth, and was held in a school-house that 
was built the same year. 

The first and only hotel of which the place 
could l)()ast w^as opened by C. W. Butter- 



field in 1865, he buying the residence of 
Dana E. King for that j'ui'pose. He has 
kept it ever since, enlarging the original build- 
ing as the necessities of the occasion required, 
and is still the landlord. 

The first religious services were held at the 
residence of W. H. Greenleaf, in the upper 
story of the saw-mill, in the fall of 1859, on 
which occasion Rev. J. C. Whitney, a Pres- 
l)yterian clergyman, officiated. A church 
edifice was built in 1S68, by the Presbyterian 
congregation, in which the Rev. AY. C. Hard- 
ing, now deceased, was the first jiastor. 

The Methodists had also a religious ore-an- 
ization, and held regular services, but never 
put up any church edifice. 

The first blacksmith shojs was put up and 
operated by Henry Keach, in 1861. He re- 
mained here until about 1870, and then 
removed to Nebraska. James McCue is the 
present blacksmith of the village, and does a 
flourishing business. 








w 





CHAPTEE XXV. 

HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE OF LITCHFIELD. 

f)'XRIOR to the advent of 
|p the iron horse in this 
part of Meeker coun- 
ty, there was nothing 
upon the site of the 
now ])rosperous vil- 
%( hige of Litchfield, ex- 
r-i\ cept a wheat field and pasture 
lands. It entirely owes its ex- 
istence to that happy event, the 
coming of the railroad, which 
reached hei-e in the summer of 
1809. the track-laying as far as 
til is place having been com- 
])]ete(l, and the rirst train, a con- 
struction, running in August 
13tli of tiiatyear. The town site 
was laid out and ]ilatted by the St. Paul 
& Pacific Kailroad (Company and George B. 
Waller, on the east half of section 11, Litch- 
field township. This was surveyed, platted 
and filed for record, July ft), ISOU. 

Litchfield is beautifully located on portions 
of sections 11, 12 and 14, and reaches north 
from tlie shores of lovely Lake Ptijiley for 



more 



than 



L mile 



and a half, 



whilst its great- 



est breath is about a mile. To the original 
town plat there have been added Weisel's 
addition in 1869, the second addition in 
1873, Butler's addition in 1873, Crosby's 
addition in 187-4, the third railroad addition 
in 1875, Hansen's addition in 1879, Angier's 
addition and Greenleafs addition in 1887, and 
Bodano'e & Johnson's addition in 1888. The 
entire city is well laid out with wide streets 
and avenues, and the site is dotted all over 
with hand some residences, many of them 
surrounded with elegant and well-kept 
grounds. The business portion of the city 
presents a substantial and thrifty ap[)earance, 
owing to the large number of line brick 
stores, offices, hotels, etc., all of which are 
in fine taste. The stores are well filled 
with well-selected merchandise of a char- 
acter above that usualh' found in cities of 
the size of Litchfield, and are doing a 
splendid business. The pride the citizens 
take in their home can be readily seen 
in tiie appearance of the place, in the 
many noble edifices, and their beautiful park. 
Tlie town drew its name from E. D. 
Litclilield, an English capitalist and stock- 
holder in the St. I^aul tt Pacific Ilailroad, liv- 
ini'- in I>ondon, and whose wife made such lib- 



584 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



585 



eral donations to the Episcopal Church Soci- 
ety, as is detailed elsewliere. 

Litclilield is connected with the outer 
world by the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Mani- 
toba Railroad, wliich passes diagonally north 
west and southeast through the town plat. 
This, whicii is one of the best roads in the 
State, affords ample facilities for marketing 
the products of this part of Minnesota. 

At the regular election held November 2, 
1869, tlie question ot the removal of the 
county seat from Forest City to Litchfield 
was submitted to the qualified electors of 
the county, and by a majority of 89, in a 
total vote of 927, it was decided in tlie 
affirmative, and the latter city became the 
seat of justice of Meeker county. The 
court-house, of whicli a descrijJtion is given 
in another place, adorns the north part of 
the town, and is really a very handsome and 
complete edifice. The location of the seat 
of justice at Litchfield and the presence of 
the railroad have both been important fac- 
tors in the I'apid growth of the place, and 
have established it upon a firm basis. 

George B. Waller, who had previously 
purchased the northeast c[uarter of section 
11, in this township, came to this locality in 
the late summer of 1869, and settled, know- 
ing that a town would be estaljlished near 
by. When the railroiul liad been graded 
through tliis county, he deeded to the rail- 
road company an undivided half in his 
quarter of section of land to be laid out 
into town lots, reserving a lot of some ten 
acres in the northwest corner of the tract 
for his home. As soon as the road was con- 
structed to this point, and trains were run- 
ning, he shipped from Minneapolis the mate- 
rial with which to construct a house, which 
had already been fi-amed and gotten ready 
to put together, in the previous winter. In 
November, of the same year, he brought his 
family to the incipient village. 

About the same time that Mr. Waller was 



building his residence, J.M.Miller hauled 
the lumber for a house from Clearwater, and 
erected a dwelling. Shortly after this Truls 
Nelson put up another building in which to 
live, near where the town hall is now loca- 
ted. These were the first three buildings, 
the nucleus around which has sprang up this 
thriving and growing town. 

B. F.Pixley put up the next house,and others 
soon followed. Mrs. C. 0. Porter was the 
first lady to take up her residence here, and 
Mrs. Pixley the second, the former dating 
her arrival from the 26th of August, 1869, 
and the latter, one day later. 

The first store was erected by Heard & 
Ward, a firm composed of S. A. Heard and 
C. D. Ward, who opened what is known as 
a genei'al merchandise stock, in the embryo 
city, in the fall of 1869. The building which 
they occupied is the one that is used as a 
harness shop by Hugh Dowling, but origin- 
ally stood on the site now occupied by the 
handsome brick store of D. E. Branham. 
Heard & Ward continued in business to- 
gether until 1872, when Mr. Heard purchased 
the interest of liis partner, and carried it on 
until 1880, at which date he, too, sold out to 
Branham & Hickcox. 

H. B. Johnson's store building Avas the 
next to be erected, and was soon followed by 
that of Joseph James. 

In November of this year, C. H. Strobeck,. 
who had decided to locate in the place,, 
erected a store building on the site of the 
present Ivronsbrick building, which he occu- 
pied in part, nnd })art of which he rented. 

The first man to do turner's work in the 
village, was M. A. Brown, who jnit up a 
little shop on the site of the brick building 
now occupied by Birch & Nelson, where he 
carried on the business. 

The pioneer hardware store was that of 
Vanderhorck & King, who commenced in 
that line in the fall of 1S69. The firm of 
King it Whyborn, who succeeded them, 



586 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



dis])ose(l of the stock and good \vill to Z. B. 
Fitield in 1877, in whose hands it proved a 
losing investment. 

W. S. Brill entered into business in the 
drue: line about the same time in the buihling- 
put up by C. H. Strobeck, and continued in 
trade here until 1882, when, selling out to 
Revell Bros., he I'emoved to St. Paul, wliere 
he now lives. 

The first man to sell lumber in tiie new- 
town was .Io.sei)li James, but lie did not estab- 
lish a yanl ; tlie first to enter into that line 
regularly was John Esbjornsson and C. Pe- 
terson, who. together, opened a lunil)er yard 
in tiie summer of ISG'.t, when there was 
scarcely a building 'on the town site. They 
quit this business the following winter. 

E. A. Cami)bell moved to Litchfield in the 
fall of 18()9, with a stock of general mer- 
chandise, from Foi-est City. About a year 
later Jesse V. Branhani, Jr., became a mem- 
ber of the firm and they carried on the busi- 
ness for some time under the firm name of 
Campbell & Branham. 

C. L. Angell, another pioneer of the village, 
came here in the fall of 1869, and commenced 
the establishment of the photograjihic art 
gallery that he still carries on. 

Chase & Dunn came into the incipient city 
during the same fall, ami opened a livery 
stable, which they ran for some time. 

Rapidly, as if by the stroke of a magician's 
wand, a Ijusy town sprang up w-ith a mirac- 
ulous orowth, and where once the o-i-ound 
gave back oidy the sound of the footfalls of 
grazing cattle, came the busy hum of com- 
merce, and the noise of the saw, plane and 
hammer, as building after building rose into 
view. 

Among those who settled in the village in 
1S69, not mentioneil above, were the follow- 
ing : William H. Greenleaf. J. P. Scarp, 
James Tinkham. J. II. Bacon, N. A. Tiren, 
Hamlet Stevens, E. A. Campbell, C. II. Stro- 
beck, Dr. Geo. B. Weisel, O. B. Espin, W. 



II. Dart. Walfreid Erickson. Smith D. King, 
David Miller, Mr. Ilunnion, Charles and 
Solomon Almquist, L. "W. Perkins, Hans 
Mattson, {'harles O. Porter, P. Crosb}^ Isaac 
Crosby, Julius Crosby, S. Y. Gordon, John 
Mitchell, J. D. Chapman, A. R. Potter, J. C. 
Braden, J. M. Waldron, C. B. Howell, Henry 
Hill, John Blackwell, Jesse V. Branham, Jr., 
Jesse V. Branham, Sr., H. B. Johnson and 
Andrew and B. P. Nelson. 

In 1870 there came to the new village 
quite a numl)er, among whom were — George 
H. Chapman, V. II. Harris, George Lyon, 
Lewis Laisoii, Chauncey Butler. ]\r. J. Flynn, 
W. W. Rollin, Wni. M." Campbell, Dr. F. E. 
Bissell. Henry Chase, R. W. Dunn, J. Q. A. 
Braden, John Patten. W. D. Stanton, Louis 
Ekbom, D. E. Potter, A. C. Smith and 
others. 

Others who made settlements in the new 
village early in 1871,1872 and 1873 are easily 
named. Among the most prominent and 
best remembered are Frank E. Dagget, "W. 

D. Joubert, F. V. DeCoster, X. W. Hawkin- 
son, Col. Jacob M. Howard, Daniel Flynn, 
S. A. Scarp, A. C. Johnson, Morris Neuman, 
Robert Gordon, "W. S. Knappen. S. W. Gla- 
zier, Joseph Cameron, A. T. Koerner. M. T. 
Hayford, John Whyborn, S. P. Chipman, 

E. M. Eastman, Peter Bei-ens, Joseph Leaser, 
W. S. Adams, James Hooser, S. "\Y. Leavitt, 
R. S. Hershey, E. F. Roberts, J. B. Hatch, 
Joseph Mills, N. Anderson and many others. 
From this time on the settlement was rapid, 
and the village soon grew to be one of the 
commercial centers of this portion of the 
State. 

Late in August, 1869, the Litchfield House 
was built and opened, and was, therefore, 
the fi st hotel in the city, as well as one of 
fii"st structures on the town site. 

The pioneer religious services in the vil- 
lage were held in a small school-house, then 
in course of construction, but, as yet, with- 
out doors or windows, on the 15th of August, 



MEEKER COUNTY. MINNESOTA. 



587 



1869, at which the Rev. D. B. Jackson, a 
Presbyterian clergyman in charge of the 
church at Kingston, this county, officiated. 
A Sabbatli-school was organized September 
19th of the same year, by Eev. M r. Hall, a 
divine of the Congregational denomination, 
and Avas the pioneer of several others. The 
first church edifice was not finished until 
1871, and was the house of the Presiiyteri- 
ans, which was commenced in the fall of 

1870. The firet donation ]iarty was held by 
the people connected with the Methodist 
Church, on an evening in December, 1869, 
at the house of Rev. J. S. Fassig, their min- 
ister. Gifts of §52 in cash and a great 
amount of other articles were left with the 
worthy recipient of their kindness. 

Hans Mattson, the present Secretary of 
State, came to Litchfield in 1869, and estab- 
lished the railway company's land-office in 
the small building on the corner opposite 
the Howard House. Here he remained sev- 
eral years. 

The first death in the community occurred 
in the year 1871, and was that of the little son 
of M. D. Bowen. About the same time a 
Swedish settler, while passing to his home 
west of the city, fell from the trestle bridge 
of the railroad near the western limits of 
the village, and broke his neck. Old resi- 
dents are undecided as to which of these 
preceded the other, but as the former is the 
death of a resident of the vilhige it is given 
prominence. 

The pioneer physician of Litchfield was 
Dr. George W. "Weisel, who came to this 
place from Forest City in the fall of 1869. 
He remained here in practice, according to 
the regular or alloi)athic school, for some 
years, but is now living in Williamsport, 
Lycoming coimtv. Pa. The second was Dr. F. 
E. Bissell, still a resident of the village. The 
third physician was a Dr. Bell, a follower of 
the homeopathic school, but who ditl not 
long remain in the place. 



The pioneer bank was established in 1875, 
by Harrington & Lyon, who called it the 
Bank of Litchfield. They continued to run 
it for a short time, when it passed into the 
hands of Chauncey Butler, who continued 
its operations until December 27, 1877, when 
it collapsed. 

The pioneer attorney of Litchfield was 
Charles H. Strobeck, who first came here in 
October, 1869. Newton H. Ciiittenden was 
the next to locate, and was followed, the 
same year, by Frank Belfoy. In 1870, 
Henry Hill, Charles B. Howell and A. C. 
Smith joined the resident members of the 
bar. 

When Frank Belfoy came here in 1869, 
he brought from Forest City the press and 
material of the MceTcer County Keivs, the 
pioneer paper of the county, which became 
an important factor in the ujibuilding and 
development of the young village. 

Among the business concerns of an early 
day were the following named, ivith such 
history as would be of interest as could be 
gleaned from those most intei'ested and best 
posted. These are the firms that have ceased 
to exist; those that still survive, or that are 
still operated by their successors, are treated 
of further on. 

B. O. Esping came here in 1870 or 1871, 
opened the first jewelry store, and fol- 
lowed that business for several years. He is 
now engaged in the hotel business in South- 
ern Minnesota. 

Josejih Mills opened a jewelry establish- 
ment in 1872, and continued its operation 
until about 1877, when he died. 

W. II. Dart came to the village with a 
stock of goods from Forest City, in 1869, but 
was succeeded by "W. D. Stanton in 1870, 
wiio ran the business until 1874, when he 
sold out on account of ill iieaitli. 

William II. Greeiileaf opened a store for 
the sale of general merchandise in 1870, but 
the next fall sold it to B. L. Perrv, who ran 



5S8 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



it to the early part of 1871, when he in turn 
disposed of it to F. Y. DeCoster. 

Eankin & Greenleaf were for some time 
enffatjed in the sale of hardware. Tiiev were 
succeeded bv S. W. Rankin, who ran it until 
18S7, wlien he sold out. 

The pioneers in the sale of agricultural im- 
plements were James Tinkham and Scarp & 
Anderson. The latter established the Inisi- 
ness in 1872, and it passed through many 
changes of firm until the death of John 
Scarp, by drowning, in a wreck on the Baltic 
Sea in 1 882. 

Jacob Koerner was the pioneer butcher of 
the place, opening a meat market in about 

1870. Harris ct Gordon were in this same 
line for two Vears, dating from some time in 
1872. 

The first furniture was that of D. E. Potter, 
who commenced business in 1871. He finalh' 
removed from the village. 

Mark liaklwin opened a harness shop in 

1871, which he ran until 1877, and then 
closed out and emigrated to California, wliere 
he now lives. 

A. W. Swenson, in 1877, started in the 
general merchandise line, continued in busi- 
ness two years, and then removed to Alex- 
andria, this State. 

C. M. Tileston's dr^' goods store was estab- 
lished in 1878, and ran until 1881, Avhen he 
closed out and went to Minneapolis. 

G. M. Babcock & Co. opened a hardware 
store in 1875, and continued in that line of 
ti'ade for two years before closing out. 

W. AV. Page opened a book and notion 
stoi'e in the building where the postoffice is 
now located, in 1872, which ran for about a 
year. 

J. "VV. Billings' confectionery store com- 
menced operations in 1875, and continued 
about two years. 

Conrad Juul came to Litchfield with a 
stock of goods in 1878, and ran for some 
time, when he failed. He built the first brick 



store building in the town, the one where 
Tharalson Bros, are now doing business. 

Among the gentlemen who have been con- 
nected with the bar of Meeker county, resident 
at Litchfield, not mentioned before, or not 
hei'e at present, were : E. A. Campbell, S. 
A. Plumley, F. P. Olne}', L. C. Spooner and 
]\rr Julian. 

LITCHFIELD IN 1888. 

In order to have a just comprehension of 
the development and progress of the city, it 
is absolutely necessary to give a picture of 
the present business, religious, social and 
educational institutions of the city, with 
their histories; and they are herewith ap- 
pended. 

The genei'al merchandise firm of Cairn- 
cross & Palm, originated in 1871 with the 
Nelson Bros. Several changes have been 
made in the name and style, several parties 
having oiierated it, among whom were 
Cairncross A: Brother, who commenced in 
1878. In 1881, Alexander Cairncross pur- 
chased the interest of his brother, Stewart, 
and ran the business until January 1, 1885, 
when, John Palm having acquired an inter- 
est, the present firm was formed. 

The business house of Tharalson i Bro., 
dealers in general merchandise, was initiated 
July 1, 1878, by A. Tharalson, where the 
harness-making shop is now. N. Tharalson 
was general manager at that time. They 
remained in that building until October, 
1881, when they purchased the store where 
they are now located, and moved in the same 
fall. February 23, 1887, N. Tharalson was 
admitted to a full partnershiji, and the firm 
name changed to its present form. 

The stand of Nelson, Johnson tV- Larson 
originated in 1>180, l)v the formation of a 
firm under the above name, composed of B. 
P. Nelson, A. C. Johnson and Lewis Larson. 
They at once commenced the erection of 
their fine brick store building, which was 
put up at an expense of some $10,000, and 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



589 



in December, ISSO, therein opened a stock 
of thy goods, etc., and are to-dav^ among tlie 
heaviest dealers in that line. 

J. L. AVakefield, dealer in dry goods and 
general furnisliing materials, came to Litch- 
field in November, 1883, and opened a stock 
of general merchandise in the l)nilding where 
F. V. DeCoster is now located. A short 
time subsequently he removed to his present 
location. 

Charles Johnson came to Litchfield in the 
fall of 1SS3, opened a general stock of 
goods, and is engaged in that line at the 
present time. 

The oldest drug house in the city is that 
of A. J. and N. F. Eevell, operating under 
the firm name of Eevell Bros., who are the 
successors of W. S. Brill, who started this 
establishment in 1869, the first of its kind in 
the village. The latter continued to manage 
it until 1882, when he removed to St. Paul, 
after disposing of it to the present proprie- 
tors, who are in the enjoyment of an excel- 
lent Inisiness. They carry a large and well- 
selected stock of drugs, fancy articles, as 
well as paints, etc. 

V. II. Harris, who is also engaged in the 
drug business, was the second to open a store 
of that character in the village, commencing 
in the fall of 1ST3, under the firm name of 
Harris & Bell, in the building now occupied 
by the ])ostolEce. There they remained 
until IST'.t, when, having erected the second 
brick store building in the jilace, Mr. Harris 
removed into it, where he now carries on 
bu&iii' ss, which he has filled with a full and 
comp ete stock of first-class goods and is a 
leader in that line. 

Tiie drug firm of W. W. Johnson & Co. 
originated in a business established by J. E. 
Upham and W. W. Johnson, in 1881, in the 
building now used as the postoffice, and there 
continued, under the firm name of Upham & 
Jolmson, until two years later, when Dr. 
George Newland purchased the interest of 



the senior partner, and the present firm was 
formed. Tiiree months later tiiey removed 
to the Howard House block, where they re- 
mained until the fall of 1886, when they took 
up their quarters in the Old Court House 
block, where the}^ are at present located. 
They, too, have a large stock and do a good 
trade. 

Tiie grocery house of D. E. Branham was 
established in March, 1883, Ijy D. E. Bran- 
ham and G. O. Hickcox, they buying out S. 
A. Heard, the pioneer merchant of theplace. 
They conducted tlie business until March, 
1SS8, when Mr. Hickcox disposed of his in- 
terest to his partnei', and the firm name 
changed from Branham ct Hickcox, to its 
present one. His stock is full, complete and 
elegantly displayed, and his business is ac- 
cordingly quite large and remunerative. 

W. II. Dart, who is also engaged in deal- 
ing in groceries, etc., exclusively, occupies 
the stand established by Daniel McLane, in 
1880, and succeeded that gentleman in 1887. 
He carries a very large and complete stock 
for a town of the size of Litchfield, and as a 
representative pioneer citizen, has a wide ac- 
quaintance in the county. 

The hardware firm of AVindle & Anderson 
succeeded Anderson & Hanson, among the 
leading ones in that line. The latter Avas 
formed in May, 1887, by A. J. Anderson 
and N. C. G. Hanson. They entered at once 
upon the transaction of business, and carried 
it on until the spring of 1888, when they 
were succeeded by the present firm. 

The hardware house of Johns Brothers, 
was established in April, 1887, by D. B. and 
W. H. Johns, under the above firm name 
and style. -They started l)y purchasing the 
stock of Daniel McLane, and later that of 
S. W. Eankin. 

Peter M. Johnson is also engaged in the 
sale of all kinds of hai'dware in the city. He 
came here in July, 1880, and, in connection 
with M. A. Brown, entered into this line of 



590 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



trade. One year later it passed into 
the sole possession of its present proprietor. 

The establishment of Birch c*c Nelson, 
dealers in clothing, hats, caps and gents' fur- 
nishing goods, was commenced in 1880, by 
John Birch and Andrew Nelson, trading 
under the firm name of John Birch & Co. 
They 0))ene(l business in what is known as 
the old J>ank building, where the}' remained 
some five years. In the spring of 1884-, An- 
drew Nelson disposed of his interest to Ras- 
mus Nelson, and the present firm was formed. 

The Golden Eagle clothing house origin- 
ated in March, 1886, at which time Jacob 
Kahn and M. Leon opened a stock in this 
line. The senior partner, who is a resident 
of Chicago, is a member of the wholesale 
clothing firm of Kahn Brothei-s & Co., and 
Mr. Leon is managing partner in this village. 

F. V. DeCoster entered into the mercantde 
circles of Litchfield in the spring of 1871, 
opening a stock of general merchandise in 
the building, where he is now located, and 
operated in that line until 1870, when he 
commenced the sale of musical instruments, 
sewing machines and notions. This he con- 
tinued until 1S87, when he added to iiis 
stock an invoice of watches, jewelry and 
silver-plated ware. 

D. Elmquist came to Litchfield in 1876, 
and opened a jewelry store, in the building 
now occupied by Nelson & Winger as a 
tailor shop. He remained in that edifice for 
some four years, when he removed to 
Brown's corner building, and later from 
there to a store owned by Mr. Koerner. In 
1886, he removed to his present location in 
the Okl Court House block. 

C. G. Wennerlund, a native of Norway, 
ope;!od a jewelry store in May, 1887, under 
the control of C. B. Nelson. 

The pioneer lumi)er yard of the city of 
Litchfield, was established in August. 1860, 
by Joh» Esbjornssen and C. Peterson, when 
the embryo town contained iiardly a build- 



ing. The firm carried on the business until 
the following winter, Avhen it was dissolved. 
In 1876 Mr. Esbjornssen again entered into 
the lumber business, buying out the yard 
antl stock of S. W. Leavitt, and has con- 
tinued to carry it on ever since, cariwing full 
stocks of all goods pertaining to the trade. 

In 1878 W. II. Greenleaf bought out the 
lumljer yard of M. J. Flynn, and in 18SMthat 
of H. B. Brown, and consolidated the two 
and carried on the business alone until 1882, 
when he admitted to a partnership his son, 
Charles A., and the firm of Greenleaf & Son, 
thus formed, still conduct the business. They 
have also an interest in a wholesale lumber- 
yard in St. Paul, and another retail yard on 
the ^linneapolis it Pacific Railroad. 

During the year 1880 Chauncey F. Dart 
established a furniture store in Litchfield, 
and continued its operation until November, 
1884, when he disposed of it to P. Berens, 
the present jiropiietor, who has largely in- 
creased the stock, and carries a large line of 
goods of the description usually making up 
stocks of this character, inchuling carpets, 
etc. His building, which he owns, is on the 
east side of Sibley avenue, and was erected in 
1886 at a cost of over §5,000. 

John Snell came to Litchfield in 1877, and 
bought out the furniture establishment orig- 
inated by J. B. Hatch, in 1876, and has con- 
tinued in that Ime ever since. In 1879 he 
erected the brick building where he carries 
on business, his store-rooms having a front- 
age of eig-htv feet. He has added under- 
taking to the other branches of his business, 
and controls a large trade. 

The extensive business carried on by M. 
J. Flynn & Bro. has grown up with the 
town. In the sj)ring of 1870 Chauncey But- 
ler established a lumber yard, which, in 1873, 
passed into the hands of J. H. Morris. One 
year later it was jnirchased by M. J. Flynn, 
who ran it until the fall of 1878, when he 
sold it to W. II. Greenleaf. In the same 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



591 



year, Mr. Flynn and liis brother Daniel, enter- 
ing into partnersliip, commenced the sale of 
agricultural machinery, in which they are so 
largely engaged, succeeding in this line the 
firm of Butler, Campbell ct White, which 
originated with those gentlemen in 1872. In 
18S0 M. J. Flynn & Bro. purchased the But- 
ler elevator, with a storage capacit}' of 30,- 
000 bushels, and are also engaged in handling- 
grain, shipping 175,000 bushels of wheat 
alone in 1887. 

McLane & Crowe are also engaged in the 
sale of agricultural implements, wagons, etc., 
having commenced this line of trade here in 
the spring of 1886. Tlie firm consists of 
Daniel McLane and L. D. Crowe. They are 
also extensively known as grain buyers, tliey 
operating one of the elevators at this point. 

J. W. Johnson commenced the sale of 
agricultural implements, farm machinery, 
wagons, etc. in 1888, carries a full line of 
everything needed liy tlie farmer in that 
class of goods, and is quite a popular mer- 
chant. 

Maher & Palm are also engaged in the 
Stile of farm machinery and wagons, on Wall 
street, west of Sibley avenue. 

George 11. Chapman, who is engaged in 
the manufacture and sale of harness, etc., 
commenced business in Litchfield in May, 
1870, and has continued in that line ever 
since. He carries a full line of all horse ac- 
coutrements, and everything needed by a 
horseman. His business, which is a large 
one, is gradually increasing 3'ear by year. 

E. J. Gould is also carrying on the har- 
ness-making trade in Litchfield, commencino- 
the business here in February, 1886. He 
carries everything needed in liis line. 

The harness-making shop of Hugli Dowl- 
ing was established in September, 1879, by 
the present proprietor, who carries a full 
stock of all manner of goods connected with 
his line of trade, and has built up for himself 
a fine business in this localitv, bv strict at- 



tention to business. On the 4th of March, 
1885, lie met with the misfortune of losing 
his stock by fire, but has fully recovered 
from the stroke of adverse fate. 

The flour and feed store of C. H. Dart 
owes its origin to Mr. Dart and George Gor- 
don, wlio commenced its operation in April, 
1880. The firm only existed for a short 
time, when the present owner assumed sole 
charge, and has continued to so run it. In 
connection with this business he is also en- 
gaged in jobbing cigars, having been in 
partnership in this department with E. S. Her- 
shey until Jannary, 1887, when he purchased 
the interest of liis partner. In 1886, Mr. 
Dart erected the fine brick building where he 
is located, and moved into it the same fall. 

Robert Yorys, who is engaged in carrying 
on a bakery and restaurant, initiated this 
business stand in 1886. He carries a stock 
of confectionery and tobaccos in connection, 
therewith. 

Chris. Mortenson opened his bakery in the 
fall of ISS-t, on the corner of Second street 
and Marshall avenue, where he remained 
until June 19, 1886, when he removed to the 
corner of Ramsey and Second streets, where 
he operated a boarding house in connection 
with his bakery; but in April, 1888, he sold out 
to Heni'v Halvorson, Jr., who is now engaged 
in the same line. 

Chris. Bertleson is occupied in running a 
blacksmith shop, having established that 
business here in 1883. He worked here for 
about two years, and then suspended opera- 
tions for three years at this point, but came 
back to Litchfield on the expiration of that 
time, and re-opened his smithy. 

Morris Neuman, blacksmith and wagon 
maker, commenced his business herein 1872, 
in a shop located on Marshall avenue. He 
erected the brick building he now occupies, 
in 1876, and moved into it the same year. 

Paulson & Satlier are engaged in the 
meat market business in the village, as are 



592 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Barker it Andrews. The first mentioned 
firm commenced business in 1882, with John 
Paulson andC. C. Sather at the helm, and so 
continued until Jul}', 1885, when the former 
retired from lousiness, but in 18ST came back 
to Litchfield, anil again entered into partner- 
ship with the same i)arty with whom he was 
in business before. The firm of Barker ^ 
Andrews was formed in the fall of ISST l>y 
D. W. Barker and J. (,). Andrews. 

David Gorman is engaged in running the 
Pioneer livery stable, which was established 
in the fall of 1869, by Chase & Dunn. Some 
time after the latter disposed of the business 
to R. "W. Dunn, and the firm of Dunn & 
Deymouth was formed. They ran it for a 
while, and were in turn succeeded by Dey- 
mouth it McCarger, and it was run by them 
until 1882, Avhen it passed into the possession 
of the present pi'o[)rietoi', who has operated 
it ever since. 

Knights & Ross, who are. also, engaged in 
the liver}' stable business, commenced their 
labors in that line in Litchfield in 1SS6. 

There are eight places in the city of 
Litchfield for the sale of li(iuor. wine, beer, 
etc. The gentlemen who conduct them, for 
the most part, are excellent citizens, and 
receive the i-espect of the people generally, 
although there is a large element of prohibi- 
tionists in the community. The saloons are 
kept ijy the following named — John Kons- 
brick, A. von Eckstaedt, John Burns, Minton 
& Peterson, Xels Clements, S. A. Scarp, A. 
D. Eoos and Charles Foster. 

Nelson & Winger, tailoi-s, C. B. Nelson 
and N. Anderson, boot and shoe makers, and 
A. Lofstrom, house and sign painter, are 
among tlie lea<ling artizans of the place, 
and helj) make up the business of the vil- 
lage. 

There are four millinery establishments, 
also, in the town of Litchfield — namely, 
those of Mrs. Caswell, Mi's. Pixley, Mi-s. 
Cary and Miss Nygren. 



The ])hotograpliic and art gallery of Angell 
& Weeks was estaljlished in 1860, in the 
infancy of the town, and is well entitled to 
the name of the " Old Pioneer Studio." C. 
L. Angell came to the site of the town when 
but few structures of any kind were erected, 
and at once commenced business in a small 
way. From this humble beginning he hns 
made it one of the finest estaljlishments in 
the State outside of tlie large cities, and fur- 
nishes woi'k equal to any. 

J. 11. Bacon, who is also a resident dentist, 
is operating a ])hotographic gallery, com- 
mencing in this line in 1879, and carrying it 
on in connection with the duties of his pro- 
fession. 

C. II. Bigelow, dealer in books, stationery, 
notions, confectionery, cigars, tobacco, etc., 
commenced business here in March, 1880, in 
the building where the Golden Eagle cloth- 
ing store now stands, where he carried on 
the business until June, 1881, when he re- 
moved to his present location. 

J. W. Knight, who is a dealer in tubular- 
well su})plies. ]nimps of all descriptions, I'ulj- 
ber goods and engine extras, commenced this 
line of trade in Litchfield in 1873, and has fol- 
lowed it ever since with considerable success. 

The real estate, loan and insurance busi- 
ness of Aug. T. Koerner was established by 
that gentleman while he was register of 
deeds of the county, in 1879 or 1880, and on 
his retiring from that office he gave his 
whole attention to the business, which he 
carries on at the j)resent writing. 

D. W. Emeiy opened a real estate, loan 
and collection agency in Litchfield, on com- 
ing to this locality in April, 1886, and still 
continues in that line of business. 

The members of the bar of Meeker county 
having tiieir residence in the city of Litch- 
field, at the present writing, are the follow- 
in"- named— Charles 11. Strobeck, N. C. I\Iar- 
tin, J. M. Kusseil, Edward P. Peterson antl 
Ilenrv S. McMonigle. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



593 



The medical fraternity of Litchfield, which 
enjoys a high reputation for ability, judg- 
ment and success, is represented by the fol- 
lowing-named gentlemen — Dr. V. P. Ken- 
nedy, Dr. F. E. Bissell, Dr. W. E. Chapman, 
Dr. George Newland and Dr. J. II. Bowers. 
The dental profession is well i-epreseiited 
by Drs. E. B. Weeks and J. II. Bacon. 

Litchfield lias three progressive and al^ly 
edited local newspapers, all weekly — the 
Nevis-Ledger, tlie Review, and tlie Independ- 
ent, a history of which has alread\' Ijeen 
given in the general history of the county, 
in connection with tiie annals of journalism. 
The Meeker County Bank was established 
in January, 1878, immediately after the 
failure and assignment of Chauncey Butler's 
bank, by Walter Mann and W. R. Merriam, 
vice-president and cashier of the Merchants 
National Bank of St. Paul. They opened 
business in the Carey brick building, in 
which it continued as long as it remained 
under the control of the originators. The 
officers of the institution were — Walter 
Mann, president ; W. R. Merriam, vice-presi- 
dent ; and H. B. Gates, cashier. It ran but 
a short time, when the stock company that 
now owns the institution was formed, which 
was incorporated in the summer of 1ST8, 
with a capital of ^25,000, and tlie following 
stockliolders — Andrew Nelson, II. B. Gates 
and E. P. Nelson, of Litchfield, and W. E. 
Merriam and Walter ]Mann, of St. Paul. 
Business was re-commenced in the small brick 
building opposite where the bank is now sit- 
uated, where its predecessors had opened, 
with the following officers — Andrew Nelson, 
president; B. P. Nelson, vice-president ; and 
H. B. Gates, cashier. They carried on oper- 
ations in this edifice until ISSl, when the 
present structure was erected by them at a 
cost of $6,400. In 1SS2 tlie officers chosen 
Avere Alexander Cairncross, president ; 
George S. Ciiandler, vice-president, and "H. 
B. Gates, cashier. On the Ttii of July, ISSi, 



E. B. Benson was placed in the position of 
assistant cashier, and February 5, 1885, he 
was promoted to the office of cashier, and is 
at present filling that responsible post. The 
otlier officers are — Alexander Cairncross, 
president; P. E. Hansen, vice-president; and 
C. C. Upham, teller. The capital stock of 
the bank was increased in January, 1886, to 
the sum of |l32,000. The stockholders are 
at present the following named — A. Cairn- 
cross, P. E. Hansen, G. S. Ciiandler, A. E. 
Montford, D. B. Johns, M. S. Flynn, E. B. 
Benson, John Burke and 11. N. Peck, all of 
whom, witli the exception of Mr. Burke, con- 
stitute the board of directors. 

The following is a statement of the condi- 
tion of the ])ank at tlie close of business, June 
12, 1888: 

EESODRCES. 

Bills receivable $160,358.40 

Due from other banks 24,003.91 

Cash on hand 14,925.38 

Bank building, furniture and fixtures. 10,136.87 



Total «;209,324.56 

l,I.\I!n.ITIES. 

Capital stock $ 32,000.00 

Undivided profits 31,672.93 

Deposits 115,651,63 



Total 1209,324.56 

The banking house of Stevens & Co. was 
established in 1881, by Hamlet Stevens and 
H. S. Branham, under the present firm name, 
in a wooden building on the site where Cairn- 
cross & Palm's store is now located. Busi- 
ness was carried on tliei-e until 1886, when 
tlie Iniilding which they now occupy was 
erected, into wliich they removed. They 
transact all kinds of business natural to link- 
ing institutions, liandle large quantities of 
veal estate in addition, and have acquired a 
prominence in the community well merited. 
They carry on a heavy business, and their 
financial resources are very extensive. The 
bank ranks as one of the most solid ami reli- 
able institutions in tiie State. 



594 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Tlie LitchHekl AYoolcn l\rill was established 
in tlie fall of 1885 by a t^tock coinpanv 
forinotl at tliat time for the purpose, witli a 
stock of $25,(100. The officers elected on 
organization were— J. IVf. Howard, II. Stevens, 
B. P. Nelson, John Rodange, N. W. Ilawk- 
inson, I) Flynn and D. ]\Iethven, directors; 
John Rotlange, secretary and treasurer; and 
D. Me'thven, manager. The building, which 
they erected, is, in the main part, 35 x 80 
feet in size, two stories high, and has con- 
nected with it an engine house and dry room, 
35 X 42 in size, also two stoiies in height. 
The warehouse for the storage of wool is a 
separate structure, 20 x 45, and two stories 
high, and an office completes the list of build- 
ings, which are all of l^rick veneer, and sub- 
stantially constructed. Their manufactures 
have already achieved a good reputation, 
and are in great demand. The mill is well 
equipped witii Correy macliinery, and power 
is furnislied by a powerful steam engine.. 
During the projier season this institution 
furnishes employment for some thirty peo- 
ple, and about 300 spindles are set in motion. 
Blankets, satinets, mackinaws, flannels, yarn, 
etc., are manufactured, all of superior excel- 
lence. Between 40,000 and 50,000 pounds 
of wool were made up by them in 1887, 
besides doing some $2,500 worth of custom 
Avork. In 1887 tiie capital stock was increased 
to $50,000. While digging a well, two flow- 
ing subterranean streams were struck, which 
afford an ample supply of water. At the 
election in February, 1888, the following 
officers were ciiosen — M. J. Flynn, presi- 
dent; H. Stevens, treasurer ; Jolm liodange, 
secretary and general nuinager ; J. U. 
Moore, foreman ; and J. ]\I. Howard, Andrew 
Nelson, B. P. Nelson, II. Stevens, A. Cairn- 
cross, M. J. Flynn, and John Rodange, 
directors. 

The Litchfield Roller Mill, one of tlie im- 
portant industries of the place, was built in 
1872 by J. C. Braden, J. ]\I. Waldron, A. 



Adams, and "W. S. Brill, who continued its 
operation until the following year, when 
Messrs. Adams and Brill sold out tlieir 
interests to their ]iartners. In 1874 it 
cliangetl owners again, passing into the pos- 
session of R. S. Ilershey & Co. In 1877 it 
was pureiiased by Shaw k, Ehlers, who have 
continued its operation ever since. It was 
of the old fashioned type until 1882, when 
these gentlemen remodelled the establish- 
ment and i)ut in the present roller system. 
They manufacture and ship about a car-load 
of flour every day, besides supplying the 
local trade. In connection with the mill 
they, also, own an elevator, and ship the 
surplus in the rough state, when they have 
more than they can grinil. They run a flour 
and feed store in the village, but the bulk of 
the pi'oduct of their mill is shipped to and 
sold in the British Isles. They give employ- 
ment to a force of nine men, besides several 
coopers, and are ranked among the promi- 
nent business men of the place. Tiie mill 
cost, in the first place, about $20,000, but a 
considerable sum has since been expended 
upon it, until it is one of the most complete 
in this region of the country. 

James H. Morris was for a number of 
years prominently identified with tlie mill- 
ing interests at Litchfield. 

The Litclifleld Creamery is one of the lead- 
ing and prominent manufacturing institu- 
tions of the city. It is the property of an 
association which was completed and in- 
corjiorated May 31, 1882, with a capital 
stock of $5,000, and the following-named 
stockholders — AV. II. Greenleaf, IleniyCliase, 
S. "W. Leavitt, II. B. Gates, Robert Shaw, 
G. S. Chandler, Alexander Cairncross, J. II. 
Morris, Thomas II. Wood, J. S. Shenill, M. 
J. Flynn, Charles II. Strobeck. J. A. Gart- 
ner, F. Y. DeCosterand Charles R. Strong. 
At the election the following officers were 
chosen — W. II. Greenleaf, president; Henry 
Chase, vice-president ; II. B. Gates, treas- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



595 



urer; and S. W. Lenvitt, secretary and gen- 
eral manager. The company commenced 
business, and manufactured and sold some 
35,000 lbs. of butter the first year. They 
have increased this amount, by the superior- 
it}' of the article made, which takes a front 
rank in the markets, to 75,000 lbs., and, with 
their machinery driven by tiie eight horse- 
power engine, have the capacity of turning- 
out 8,000 lbs. per day, or a total of 2,500,000 
lbs. per year, if crowded to the uttermost. 
They pay out annually the sum of $25,000 
for material and help, which all goes into 
the pockets of the farmers and laboring 
classes of this vicinit}', and has proved of 
much benefit to the community. 

The Litchfield Bottling Works of John 
Rodange was established by that gentleman 
in 1882, and in it is caiTied on the manufac- 
ture of all kinds of carbonated waters and 
beverages. A general jobbing business, 
amounting to some $8,000 per annum, is 
done. For several years, from 1SS3 to 1888, 
the proprietor carried, in connection with 
this, the jobbing of Milwaukee beer, but has 
discontinued that branch of his business. 

The Litchfield Baling Co. was established 
in May, 1885, by O. W. Topping and others, 
for the purpose of baling hay and straw, and 
the enterprise is already- assuming large pro- 
portions, they shipping some 12,000 tons 
of those articles to the Minneapolis market, 
besides supplying the local trade. They are 
also the proprietors of a feed mill, which 
they purchased in the fall of 1887, and are 
dealers in coal and other fuel. 

Charles A. Laughton's machine and ijlack- 
smith establishment is one of the institutions 
of the village that occupies a prominent 
place. In 1881 this gentleman established 
an agency for the sale of agricultural imple- 
ments made by J. I. Case & Co. In the 
spring of 1887 he added to that business the 
machine shop, where he is fully prepared to 
make all kinds of repairs, making a specialty 



of engine work. The blacksmith shop is for 
general farm work. The motive power of 
the machinery is furnished by a fine steam 
engine, and the entire plant cost over $7,000. 
He gives employment to some eight or ten 
men during the busy seasons of the year, and 
to a less number at other times. 

The feed, graham and corn-meal mill of 
Israel Miller was erected by him in 1885. He 
came to Litchfield the year previous, and 
built a steamboat, which he plied upon the 
bosom of Lake Ripley that summer, after 
whicii he put up this mill. 

The marble works of William Grono were 
established by the present proprietor, about 
November 1, 1885, and is the first and only 
institution of the kind in Litchfield. All 
kinds of marble and granite woi'k are done 
there, and monuments of all characters are 
made to order. 

The town hall and Masonic lodge room was 
built conjointly by the town trastees and 
Golden Fleece Lodge, A. F. & A. M., in the 
fall of 1871, at a cost of about $1,000. It is 
26x72 feet in size upon the ground, and two 
stories in height. The various Masonic bodies 
occupy the upjier story, which they have 
fitted up for their use in a handsome man- 
ner, including all tlie proper paraphernalia in- 
cident to the ortler. The body did not finish 
their portion of the building nor occupy it 
until the spring of 1875. Most of the money 
was raised by the issue of stock to the mem- 
bers, in $20 shares, which bore an interest of 
10 per cent., and found a ready sale. All 
of the other indebtedness has been paid off 
by the lodge, as well as some of the stock. 
The lower room is fitted up with seats and a 
stage, and in it are held all the entertain- 
ments given in the village, either by travel- 
ing troops or home talent. 

The first elevator in this village was erected 
by Commodore Davidson, in connection with 
the railroad company in 1860. It was at 
that time quite small, antl has been since its 



■596 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



sale to its])resent owner, the Millers' Asso- 
ciation of Minneapolis, considorably enlarged 
and improved. This was is 187!). A. U. 
Eoss has the charge of it at the present time. 

AYhat is now the grain elevator of M. J. 
Flvnn ct ]>r<>. was erected in 1870 b\' 
Chauncey Butler, who o])erated it until the 
time of his failure in 1877, when it was pur- 
chased by James B. Atkinson. This gentle- 
man continued its management for about 
two years, and, finding that it was an uore- 
munerative investment, re-sold it to the as- 
signees of Ciiauncey Butler, who disposed of 
it to its present projirietors, Flynn Bros., in 
1880. 

The Farmers and Merchants Cooperative 
Association's elevator was put up by that 
company in the fall of IS.'sri, and has storage 
of capacity of 85,000 bushels. John Lind- 
gren is the efficient manager. 

The elevator of the Litchfield Holler Mill 
was constructed by Shaw & Ehlers in 1885, 
and has been operated ever since. 

The Howard elevator was erected by Col. 
J. M. Howard in 1872, and Avas the first 
independent institution of the kind on tlie 
line of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba 
Railroad. It continued under the manage- 
ment of the owner until 1884, when it was 
sold by him to its present projtrietors. Car- 
gill Bros. 

The Minnesota and Dakota Elevator 
Company are also running an elevator in the 
village. This edifice was constructed in 
1883 by a local stock comjiany, known as 
the Litchfield Elevator Company, composed 
of Alexander Cairncross, Andrew Nelson, 
W. W. Eollins, Nels Larson, B. P. Nelson 
and others, who operated it until 1SS7, when 
it passed into the hands of the present 
owners. 

The Litchfield Brewery was established in 
1874, by Lenhardt and Roetzer, and after- 
ward passed into the ownership of the 
present projirietor, Ehrliardt Lenhardt, on 



the north shore of Lake Ripley. During the 
first year, he manufactuied about 100 bar- 
rels of beer, but tiie business has increased, 
until now he makes and (lisj)oses of over 
2,000 barrels each year. This institution 
furnishes employment for five men. 

The Litchfield and Meeker County Nur- 
sery, the only one in Central Minnesota, is 
owned and operated by G. W. Fuller and 
son. The senior ])artner came to this ]5lace 
in the spring of 1872, and purchased the 
Litchfield Nursery, or what there was of it, 
and that year started some 10,000 evero-reen 
trees. He deals largely in all kinds of orna- 
mental, shade and fruit trees, and all descrip- 
tions of small fruits, etc., and has a large and 
increasing trade. 

The greenhouse and market garden of W. 
J. Whittington is one of the institutions of 
the city that must not be ovei'looked. The 
proprietor came to Litchfield in 1878, and, 
September 12th broke ground on two town 
lots which lie bought on the corner of Third 
street and llolcomb avenue, for the purpose 
of establishing his biisiness here. After 
raising a crop of vegetables, and later mak- 
ing a grand floral display on the grounds 
that year, he continued to inake that his 
]ilace of business for about two years, but 
finding it too circumscribed, tlecided to 
remove to his present location in Greenleaf's 
adilition to the town site, where he now has 
five acres of land. Part of this is matle into 
a private Park, known as Garfield park, and 
is used for the i>urpose of floral and land- 
scape gardening displays. In this is hold an 
annual horticultural fair and festival, given 
to the friends and patrons of the proprietor. 
Connected with the establishment is a mar- 
ket garden for the raising of early and 
choice vegetables, and as he has telephonic 
communication with the town, affords eas}'^ 
facilities for procuring those necessaries at 
the shortest notice. 

The Litchfield House, the first in the vil- 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



597 



lage, was built by Charles Almqiiist and his 
brother in 1S69, and was at once rented to 
L. W. Perkins, who was the landlonl for a 
year. He was succeeded by M. T. Hayford 
in 1870, and the business was carried on by 
the latter gentleman until about 1880, when 
C. C. Sturdevant became the proprietor. A 
short time afterward it passed back into the 
hands of Mr. IIayford,who remained at the 
head of its affairs until the fall of 1885, 
when Mr. Hayford died, and the charge of 
it was assumed In' M. E. Bauni, the present 
proprietor. 

The Howard flouse, the leading hotel of 
Litclilield, now under the able jiroprietorship 
of Franl: W. Minton, was erected by Col. J. 
M. Howard in 1880, at a cost of some $19,- 
000. It is a beautiful and tasty edifice, 
built of cream-colored brick with brown 
trimmings; is about 75x90 feet in size, three 
stories, surmounted with a mansard roof, 
which adds another story to its height. It 
contains a comfortable office, complete bar- 
room, ample dining-room, and a large num- 
ber of comfoi'tably furnisiied betlrooms, 
with all of the usual additional rooms proper 
to the carrying on of a first-class hotel. The 
owner of the edifice has never assumeil the 
responsibility of catering to the traveling 
public, preferring to rent it to some one 
more conversant with the business. The 
first landlord was Harry S. Lilligar, who 
remained imtil 188J:, when he was succeeded 
by Richard Knights. Afterward Knights & 
Gorman ran it until May, 1885, when they 
were succeeded by Frank Minton, the 
present host. Mr. Minton is admirably 
fitted for the position of landlord, his kindly, 
genial disposition and accommodating man- 
ners making him a general favorite with the 
traveling community, a great number of 
which frequent this part of the State. 

Tlie Union House, owned and occupied by 
Andrew Ogren, Avas built in the summer of 
1887, and opened for business in August of 



that year. It is a fine building, two stories 
in height, built of cream colored brick, is 
thoroughly fitted and furnished tiirougliout, 
and offers superior inducements to travelers. 

The Exchange Hotel, another of the 
hosteli'ies of tiie village, was erected by W. 
S. Knappen early in 1873, and was situated 
on Sibley Avenue, opposite to where the 
Meeker County Bank is now located. Mr. 
Knappen continued to fill the post of "mine 
host " here for about two 3'ears, but in Janu- 
ary, 1875, he disposed of it to Thomas Ryck- 
man, who owned it until it was purchased 
by H. "W. Simons, who removed it to its 
present site on Marshall avenue, and enlarged 
it, and ran it for some time. He finally sold 
it to J. B. Hatch, who presided over its 
destinies for about a year, when, not being- 
able to meet his payments on it, it reverted 
to Mr. Simons, who sold it to S. A. Scarp, 
who I'ented it to A. J. Lee. The latter con- 
tinued its landlord untd tlie fall of 1887, 
when Henr^' E. Freeman became host, and 
has filled tiiat position ever since. 

The St. Cloud Hotel was erected in 1880 
by M. L. O'Lauglilin, and continued under 
his management until his death, since which 
time it has been run by his widow. 

The Lake liipley House was built by 
Gould & Co. in 1870, and was first rented 
by James Tinkham, who ran the house for a 
little over a year, when he was succeeded by 
P. E. Christian, who was followed soon by 
John Scarp. A short time afterward 0. D. 
Webb became the landlord, and continued 
to hold that position until the fall of 1872, 
and was followed by Otto Campbell, and 
then G. H. Fountain entered upon the pos- 
session of the house. He remained to fill 
the duties of host until March, 187C. when 
he was succeeded by L. D. Marshall, who 
"was in town, followed by Otho H. Canijibell, 
and he by R. AV. Dunn. For a short time 
the house was run by tiie latter when he 
was in town, succeeded bv Z. B. Fifield. 



598 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Peter Weissenburg liecame the landlord in 
1S80, and continued so until his deatli Janu- 
ary 5, 1884, since which time the house has 
been presided over by his widow and son 
Nicholas. 

The United States Land Office was l)rouglit 
from Greenleaf to Litchfield in December, 
1869, at which time J. C. Braden was the re- 
ceiver, and J. M. Walden, register. The 
office was located in this place until the 16th 
of September, 1S7G, when, in obedience to 
the mandate of tlie powers that were, it was 
removed to Benson, this State. At tiie time 
of this removal, "W. H. Greenleaf, now of 
Litchfield, was receiver, and J. C. Braden, 
who died in December, 1S77, was register. 

BOARD OF TRADE. 

One of the prime factors in the substantial 
growth and progi'ess of Litchfield is tiie 
Litchfield Board of Trade. It was organ- 
ized in 1880, with eighty-two charter mem- 
bers, and may be said to have had its origin 
in the movement which established and put 
the Litciifield Creamery in successful opera- 
tion. The first officers of the board were as 
follows: ^Y. S. Brill, president: E. P. Peter- 
son, secretary; M. J. Flynn, treasurer; 
Henry Ames, W. M. Campbell, P. Eckstrom, 
S. A. Heard, H. B. Johnson, N. C. Martin, 
Jacob Koerner, J. H. Morris, A. Xelson, A. 
D. Boss, John Rodange, S. AV. Leavitt and 
S. Cairncross. The board of directors has 
full power for the transaction of all routine 
business, and the aiding and encouragement 
of such enterprises as it nuiy deem beneficial 
to the town and community. In 1885 the 
board took in hand the project of establish- 
ing a woolen manufactory^ and the result 
was — the close of the year found one of the 
most creditable enterprises of its kind in the 
State established and in operation in the vil- 
lage. The present officers of the board are ; 
J. M. Ilowai-d, president; W. D. Joubert, 
secretary; Andrew Nelson, treasurer. 



I'OSTOFFICE. 

The postoffice in Litchfield was established 
in August, IbCiy, and J. A. C. "Waller com- 
missioned as postmaster. He was succeeded 
by II. B. Johnson, and the latter by Frank 
E. Daggett. The next to hold the position 
was James II. Morris, who was followed by 
A. D. Ross, the present incumbent. 

GRAND ARMY OF THK REPtJBI.IO. 

Frank Daggett Post, No. 35, G. A. R., was 
organized at Litchfield on the 8th of July, 
1883. with f(,)urteen cliarter members. The 
books, however, were held open until the 
next meeting, when additional names were 
added, making the luunber appearing on the 
rolls as charter members, twenty-seven. The 
following is a list of these, the original " four- 
teen" being named first — J. M. Howard, G. 
H. Chapman, J. B. Atkinson, Jolin Lock- 
wood, Y. II. Harris, Carl Smith, William 
Heath, N. C. Martin, S. II. Hoffman, F. E. 
Bissell, Thomas G. Crump, George Siioles, 
A. J. Anderson, Carl Schultz, John Knights, 
Peter Stiern, August T. Koerner, J. S. Mc- 
Neal, Peter Mclntyre, Patrick McKarney, 
James Dearey, Robert Vorys, William Mc- 
Stotts, Isaac il. Russell, Christian M. Morten- 
son, Samuel Gleason and A. D. Simons. 

The first officers of the Post were as fol- 
lows — J. M. Howard, commander; John 
Lockwood, senior vice-commander; J. B. 
Atkinson, junior vice-commantler ; G. H. 
Cha])man, officer of the day ; \ . II. Harris, 
quartermaster; N. C.Martin, adjutant; F. 
E. Bissell, surgeon ; T. G. Crump, chajilain, 
ami George Sholes, officer of the guard. 
Colonel Howard held the position of com- 
mander until January 1, 1884, when he was 
succeeded by Y. H. Harris, who served one 
year. N". C. Martin was then elected com- 
mander, and has since been his own successor, 
being the pi'esent commandei'. Tlie Post 
was organized in the old court-room building, 
but held regular meetings in the judge of 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



599 



]>robate's office at tlic court-house until the 
summer of 1SS5, wlien the present G. A. R. 
l)iiikhng, "Memorial Ilall," was erected. 
The corner-stone was laid on Memorial Da v, 
in May, 1885. The cost of the building and 
grountls was !?5,0n0, aiul it is one of tlie tinest 
furnished and finished buildings of that 
cliaracter in tlie county, and the only one 
owned by the uiembers of the order in JMin- 
nesota. Thei'e is a fine libraiy room in the 
hall, in wiiicli the Post have a nundjer of in- 
teresting and valual)le relics of the rebellion 
and "Indian massacre times." Among 
these relics are the two l)ullets which were 
fired at a mark on the tree by Jones and 
Baker with the Indians, on the 17th of Aug- 
ust, 1862. Tiiey were cut from the tree on 
the first of January, 1886. The gavel, which 
is now in use by tiie commander, was made 
from tlie wood of a log taken from one of the 
log caljins in wiiich the Jones and Bakei' 
faiuilies were killed. 

The Post is now in excellent condition, 
having 125 members in good standing, and 
socially as well as well as financially it has 
been one of the most successful organizations 
in the State. The ]iresent officers of tlie Post 
are as f(jllows — N. C Maitin, c(jmniander ; 
G. H. Chapin, senior vice-eonimander ; T. J. 
Soule, junior vice-commander ; J. 13. Hatch, 
adjutant; Israel Miller, officer of the day; 
G. A. Phelps, officer of the guard ; A. T. 
Koerner, rpiarteiinaster ; T. G, Crump, chap- 
lain ; F. E. Bissell, surgeon ; F. V. DeCostei-, 
Q. M. S. ; C. V,. Curtis, S. M. ; and J. M. How- 
ard, V. II. Harris and A. T. Koerner, tiustees. 

It may be of interest to state that tne 
Post was named in honor of Frank E. Dag- 
gett, who was a lieutenant in the Sixth Min- 
nesota Volunteer Infantry-. He was the first 
grand commander of the Department of 
Minnesota, G. A. P., and was well known 
tiiroughout the State. A sketch of him is 
given in the biographical department of 
this work. 



Edward Branhani Post, G. A. P., was an 
institution of ]iast days, formed under the 
old organization of the order. Their meet- 
ing room was ov^er Dart's store on the east 
side of Siljley Avenue 

The Relief Corps, No. 16, auxiliary to 
Frank Daggett Post, No. 35, G. A. R., was 
organized January 2, 1886, with the follow- 
ing sixteen charter mend:)eis — Mrs. J. B. 
Atkinson, Mrs. M. J. Flynn, Mrs. F. E. Bis- 
sell, Mrs. J. M. Lockwood, Mrs. William 
Caiupbell, JSlrs. J. B. Sherman, Mrs. J. B. 
Hatch, Mrs. N. C. Martin, Mrs. A. Phelps, 
Mrs. Israel Miller, Mrs. George Chajiman, 
Mrs. L. Perry, Mrs. J. McNeal, Mrs. F. V. 
DeCoster, Mrs. L. Damutli and Mrs. C. L. 
Angell. The following is the roster of the 
first officers who were elected on organiza- 
tion—Mrs. J. B. Atkinson, P.; Mrs. M. J. 
Flynn, S. V. P.; Mrs J. McNeal, J. V. P.; 
Mrs. J. B. Sherman, S.; Mrs. F. E. Bissell, T.; 
Mrs. G. L. Angell, C; Mrs. J. M. Lockwood, 
Con.; Mrs. A. Phelps, Asst. Con.; Mrs. N. 
C. Martin, G.; Mrs. J. B. Hatch, Asst. G. 
These officers were installed the same even- 
ing by Mrs. Becker, department installing 
officei-, assisted by Mrs. Stai'kweather, the 
department treasurer. The corps soon h- 
ceiveil applications for new membershij), ;i;id 
has always held interesting meetings and 
done much good ^'arious ways of obtain- 
ing funds for their treasury were devi.sed, 
such as giving dinners, snjipei'S, entertain- 
ments, making and selling ice cream, etc., 
witli happy results. In the year 1886 relief 
was given to the needy to the amount of §^85 
in provisions ami clothing, and, in 1SS7, to 
$53. In addition to this the ladies have 
jriven to the G. A. R. Post money to the 
amount of $215 since their organization. The 
officers were reelected the second year, with 
the exception of Mrs. J. M. Howard being 
chosen J. Y. P., and Mrs. Miller, guard. 

December 3, 1887, the following officers 
were chosen for the ensuing year — Mrs. 



6oo 



MEEKER COUNTY. MINNESOTA. 



Bissoll, P.; ]\ri-s. Howard, S. V. P.; Mrs. 
Cliapnian, J. V. P.; Mi's. Sherman, S.; Mrs. 
Soulo, T.; Mrs. Perry, C; Mrs. Angell, Con.; 
Mrs. Pljelps, Asst.Con.; Mrs. McNeal, G., 
and ]\[rs. Martin, A. (4. The Corps is in a 
floni'ishing condition, having at pi-esent over 
tiiirty members in good standing. 

J. C. Braden Cani]i, No. 10, Sons of Vet- 
erans, was originally known as YerrickCamp, 
and was organized at the village of Dassel, 
December 5, 1885. In August, 1887, the 
camp was moved to Litchlield, and the name 
changed, though the original membership 
was retained and eight new members addeil, 
the camp being officered as follows: F. B. 
Lawson, captain; C. A. Perry, first lieuten- 
ant; Charles Phdps, second lieutenant; F. 
H. Haven, first sergeant; J. B. Atkinson, 
Jr., quartermaster. At present (1888) the 
camp musters twenty members in good 
standing, and has the following officers: C. 

A. Perry, captain ; Chas. Phelps, first lieu- 
tenant; Chas. Collier, second lieutenant; F. 

B. Lawson, orderly; J. B. Atkinson, Jr., 
quartermaster. 

MASONIC. 

The Masonic Fraternity is exceptionally 
strong at Litchfield, there being a represen- 
tative of three of the different branches of 
the order in full operation, namely — Golden 
Fleece Lodge, Eabboni Chapter and Melita 
Commandery, besides the lodge for tiie con- 
ferring the Eastern Star degree. 

Golden Fleece Lodge, No. 89, A. F. ic A. 
M., was organized under dispensation March 
10, 1871, with the following jnembers — J. C. 
Braden, B. L. Perry, J. B. Hatch, H. L. 
Wadsworth, J. M. Mitchell, C. D. Ward, J. 
A. C. Waller, D. C. Miller, C. L. Angell, 
Samuel Anderson, G. AV. Weisel, M. AV. Pi- 
per, Daniel Pineo, IL J. Lasher, Henry Hill, 
N. A. Yiren, M. T. Hayford, J. PI. Morris, 
and Lowell AVeymouth. The first officers 
chosen and installed — J. C. Braden, AV. M. ; 



J. M. Alitchell, S. AV. ; B. L. Perry, J. AV. ; 
C. D. Ward, T. ; J. A. C. AYaller,"s. ; J. B. 
Hatch, S. D. ; D. C. Miller, J. D. ; ILL. 
Wadsworth, S. S. ; and C. L. Angell, tyler. 
The lodge ran along under the dispensation 
until January 23, 1873, when it was ])laced 
under acharter granted by the Giami l.ddge, 
and the following officers installed — J. C. 
Braden ; AV. M. ; J. A. C. AValler, S. AV. ; J. 
]\[. Waldren, J. AV. ; Frank LaCross, T. ; J. 
Q. A. Braden, S. ; J. B. Hatch, S. D. ; T. R. 
Briggs, J. D. ; II. L. Wadsworth, S. S. ; D. 
C. Miller, J. S. ; II. J. Lasher, tyler. Dur- 
ing the years of its existence the following 
named worshipful masters have presided 
over its meetings— J. C. Braden, 1871-2- 
3; J. A. C. AValler, 1874; A. C. Smith, 
1875 ; J. Q. A. Braden, 187(5; S. A. Plmnley, 
1877; J. II. Morris 1878-9; J. B. Hatch, 
1880 ; Henry Ames, 1881; A.D. Ross, 1882- 
3-4 ; AV. J. Nytcs, 1885 ; A. D. Ross, 1886 ; 
and A. J. Revell, 1887. The officers for the 
current year (1888) are as follows — A. •.!. 
Revell, AV. M. ; O. A. Pennoyer, S. AV. ; C. 
Bertleson, J. AV. ; H. S. Branham, T. ; Ham- 
let Stevens, S. ; T. G. Crump, Q.. ; G. B. 
Phelps, S. D. ; Peter Berens, J. D. ; C. F. 
Payne, S. S. ; J. AV. AV right, J. S. ; C. H. 
Bigelow, tyler. 

Ral)boni Chapter, No. 39, R. A. ]VI., was 
instituted at a meeting held June 1, 18S2, 
when the following named companions 
signed the petition for authority to establish 
the chapter, and who filled the respective 
offices— J. H. Brown, H. P.; S. A. Plumley, 
K.; A. D. Ross, S.; A. T. Koerner, C. of H.; 
AV. J. Nytes, P. S.; O. A. Pennoyer, R. A. 
C.; llandet Stevens, R.; II. H. Pennover, G. 
M. T. v.; T. G. Crump, G. M. S. A^;"d. II. 
Duclcering, G. M. F. A^.; and A. C. Brown, 
acting sentinel. The first communication 
under the charter and name and number was 
held November 30, 1882, when the following 
com])ani()ns were installed as officers — J. II. 
Brown, 11. P.; S. A. Plumley, K.; A. D. 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



601 



Koss, S.; A. T. Koerner, C. of H.; W. J. 
Nytes, P. S.; C. H. Strobeck, R. A. C; W. 
S.' Brill, T.; Hamlet Stevens, S. ; II. II. Pen- 
no ver, G. M. T. v.; H. B. Johnson, G. M. S. 
v.; D. H. Duckerson, G. M. F. V.; O. A. 
Pennoyer, Sent. J. 11. Brown held the office 
of Higli Priest until 1884, and companion A. 
D. Koss filled the chair of High Priest of 
tiiis chapter until the current year, when the 
dignity of that office was conferred upon 
Charles H. Strobeck. The otlier officers for 
18SS, are as follows— Tiieodore Eiders, K.; 
A. T. Koerner, S.; J. H. Morris, C. of H.; 
A. J. Revel], P. S.; Nels M. Holm, R A. C; 
H. S. Branham, T.; Handet Stevens, S. ; T. 
G. Crump, C; Amund Dahl, G. M. T. V.; O. 
A. Pennoyer, G. M. S. Y.; J. E. Uphani, G. 
M. F. v.; and C. H. Bigelow, Sent. 

Melita Commandery, No. 17, K. T., was 
duly instituted at a meeting lield June 21, 
ISSi, at whieli time Sir Knights J. II. Mor- 
ris, A. D. Ross, A. T. Koerner, T. G. Crump, 
O. H. Strobeck, T. Ehlers, H. S. Branliam, 
N. W. Ilawkinson, O. A. Pennoyer, S. B. 
Lake, Hamlet Stevens and Peter Johnson 
signed the petition to the Grand Com- 
mander for the establishment of the Com- 
mandery. At a conclave lield January 10, 
1885, the following officers were chosen and 
installed : J. H. Morris, E. C. ; A. D. Ross, 
G. ; A. T. Koerner, C. G. ; T. G. Crump, P. ; 
C. II. Strobeck, S. W. ; Tiieodore Eiders, J. 
W. ; II. S. Branham, T. ; Hamlet Stevens, 
R. ; E. A. D. Salter, standard Itearer; O. A. 
Pennoyer, sword bearer; N. W. Hawkinson, 
W., and Marcus Jolmson, Sent. The charter 
was received October 2!*, 1SS5, and tlie fii-st 
officers under it were the following named 
Sir Knights: J. IT. Morris, E. C. ; A. D. 
Ross, G. ; A. T. Koerner, C. G. ; T. G. 
Crump, p. ; C. II. Strobeck, S. W. ; Tiieodore 
Ehlers, J. W. ; H. S. Branliam, T. ; Hamlet 
Stevens, R. ; E. A. D. Salter, standard bearer ; 
O. A. Pennoyer, sword bearer ; N. W. Hawk- 
inson, W. ; A. E. Rice, C. of 1st G. ; W. J. 



Nytes, C. of 2d G. ; Peter Johnson, C. of 3d 
G., and O. W. Ilawkinson, Sent. Sir Knight 
J. H. Mori'is lield the post of Eminent Com- 
mander until April 9, 1888, from the first 
meeting. On the above date tlie following 
officers of the Commandery were duly in- 
stalled at the regular conclave : A. T. Koer- 
ner, E. C; Theodore Ehlers, G. ; J. II. 
Morris, C. G.; C. H. Slrolieck. P.; C. II. 
Bigelow, S. W. ; A. J. Revell, J. W. ; II. S. 
Branham, T. ; Hamlet Stevens, R. ; E. A. D. 
Salter, standard Ijearer; O. A. Pennoj'er, 
sword Ijearer; N. AV. Ilawkinson, W. ; Peter 
Johnson, C. of 1st (t. ; O. W. Ilawkinson, C. 
of 2d G. 

All of the brandies of the Fraternity are in 
splentiid cutidition, Ijoth financially and 
socially, and great interest is taken in the 
work by tlie members. 

The Blue Lodge erected the hall, in lS7i, 
as related elsewhere, and rents the use of it 
to the other societies. It is a finely furnished 
and comfortable lodge-room, and manifests 
considerable taste in the fitting and furnish- 
ing. 

Fidelity Ciiapter, No. 17, Eastern Star, 
was organized under dispensation, March 3, 
18Sn, with the following list of officers and 
members, all of wiiom were initiated into 
the order by Golden Fleece Lodge, No. 89: 
Mrs. Narcissa H. Heard, "VV. Matron; Charles 
H. Strobeck, W. Patron; Mrs. Carrie E. 
Strobeck, assistant matron ; Mrs. Eunice A. 
Hayford, treasurer; ]\lrs. Tlieo. Ehlers, sec- 
retary ; Mrs. Elizabeth M. Ross, conductress ; 
Mrs. Elizabeth S. Newland, assistant con- 
ductress; ilrs. Louisa M. Hayford, Adali ; 
Mrs. Ida H. Joubert, Ruth ; Mrs. Alice E. 
Wright, Esther; Mrs. Ida ]\I. Johnson, 
Martha; Mrs. Ellen M. Crump. Electa; A. J. 
Revell, warder; Charles II. Bigelow, senti- 
nel ; Mrs. Frances S. Patrick, Mrs. Jennie 
Revel, Mrs. Frances R. Bigelow, Mrs. C. D. 
Patrick, Mrs. Sarali Thomas, Mrs. Frances 
L. Salter, J. D. Hayford. Theo. Ehlers, A. 



602 



MEEKER COUNJY, MINNESOTA. 



D. lloss, S. D. Patrick, T. G. Cnimp and O. 
A. Fennoycr. Tlic lodgo lias ])ros|)ei-<'il since 
its inception, and ranks among- tlie best in 
the State. The jn-esent otticers are as t'ol- 
lo-.vs— Mns. N. 11. Heard, W. ^r.; Charles II. 
Strobeck, W. P.; Mrs. (". II. Stn.heck, A. 
M.; Mrs. C. C. Patrick, T.; Mrs. Theo. 
Ehlers, 8.; Mrs. E. M. Ross, C; ]\[rs. -I. 
Kevell, A. C; Mrs. L. M. Ilayford, A.; Mrs. 

I. II. Joubert, K.; Mrs. M. C. Braden, E.; 
Mrs. F. S. Pati'ick, M ; Mrs. E. P. Howard, 
Electa; Mrs. I' ranees Uigelow, warder; Theo. 
Ehlers, Sent.; A. J. lleveil, C!hai).: and Mrs. 
T. J. Morris, organist. 

OTHER SOCIKTIES. 

Litchfield Lodge, No. 50,Ancient Order of 
United Woi'knien, was instituted February 
23, 1878, with the following charter mem- 
bers — N. C. Martin, II. Angier. S. Cairn- 
cross, S. A. Heard, \\. P. Nelson, A. Nelson, 

II. S. Branham, G. O. Hickox, C. (4. Top- 
ping, L. Eckslrom, II. McGannon, A. D. 
Ross, L. Elmquist, A. Palmquist, F. E. Bis 
sell, A. ]\IcConger, A. J. Anderson, G. II. 
Chapman, S. Y. Gordon, A. A. Sanford and 

E. P. Peterson. The first officers were — 
C. G. Topping, M. W. ; N. C. Martin, F. ; 

F. E. Bisseil, O. ; G. O. Hickox, Rec. ; H. S. 
Branham, financier; A. Nelson, receiver; 
H. McGannon, G. ; II. T\I. Angier, I. W. ; 
A. G. Anderson, (). W.; S. (,'airncross, P. 
N. AY. Tlie present ollicers of the h-dge are 
as follows— E. M. Eastman, M. AY.; (). A. 
Phelps, G. F. ; (ieorge H. Chapman, ( ). ; 
N. A. A'^iren, recorder; N. AV. Hawkinson, 
financier; S. S.Cook, receiver; E.Nelson, 
G.; A. Palmquist, I. AV.; C. Topping, (). 
AY. ; V. H. Harris, I). Elmquist, and John 
Rodange, trustees. Tiie lodge has eom- 
fortaijle, convenient and pleasant lodge-rooms 
in the Harris block, and is in a fioiirishing 
condition, and enjoys an excellent i"e])nta- 
tion as a benevolent and social organization. 

A lodge of tlic Indcpenilent Order i>f Odd- 



fellows was instituted in Litchfield, and sus- 
tained foi' a time, but was finally abandoneil 
and the charter surrendered. 

The Litchfield Library Association was 
chartered untler the laws of the State, on 
September 15, 1875. The capital stock was 
fixed at $5,000, 1,000 shares being issued, at 
$5 each. The articles of incoijioration de- 
fined the general ])nr])oses of the associaLion 
to l)e " for iiisti'iu-tion and mental iiii|iiii\e- 
ment in the arts and sciences, and for lilciary 
and social cultuie by means of the establish- 
meiil and maintenance of a librai'y of miscel- 
laneous l)ooks, the collection and preservation 
of curiosities, works of art and skill, and ob- 
ject illustrations of natural science, and Ijy 
lectures, addresses, and literary, scientific, 
musical and dramatic entertainments." The 
officers and charter members of the Associa- 
tion were as follows — A. C. Smith, ])resi- 
dent; AV. M. AYhite, vice-president; AY. S. 
Brill, secretary and librarian; Charles II. 
Strobeck, treasurer; F. Daggett, J. 0. A. 
Braden, AY. M. Campbell, AY. II. Greenleaf, 
S. A. Plumley, A^ P. Kennedy, F. A^ De- 
Coster, H. S. Lasher, directors; F. Belfoy, 
Dr. F. E. Bisseil, S. AV. Leavitt, A. NelsJn 
Fosen, J. Esbjornsson, Leonard Leight, Henry 
McGannon, Nelson J. Marsh, C. F. Dart, E. 
A. Campi)ell, M. J. Flynn, ,1. 11. I5ac(m, J. 
A. C. Waller, James 11. INIorris ami C. (i. 
Topping. The library is at present in the 
(irand Army of the Re|)ublic hall, in the 
immediate care of Post No. 35, though still 
the ])ropcrty of the Association. 

The Litchfield Dramatic Association was 
organized January 13, 1877, with the follow- 
ing members — J. C. Braden and wife; 
Chauncey Butler and wife; J. 11. Morris 
and wife; Col. J. M. Howard and wife: ('. 
II. Strobeck and wife; Rev. T. (L Crump 
and wife; S. W. Leavitt and wife; A. D. 
Ross and wife; S. A. Plumley and wife; 
AV. M. AVhite and wife; J. E.sbjornsson, O. 
n. .Itilinsiii), Hamlet Stevens, AV. D. Joultert, 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



603 



S. W. Frazier, II. J. Laslier, Dr. 8. L. Barr, 
Dr. J. II. riacon, and Misses lluttie Camp 
bell, Nettie JI. Ti.xley, and Ilattie 15. Siniuns. 
On organization the following oiticers wei-e 
elected to attend to the govei'nnient of the 
society: S. W. Leavitt, nianagei'; Dr. J. II. 
Bacon, assistant manager; O. B. Johnson, 
treasurer, and W. D. Joiibert, secretary. By 
one of the by-laws of the Association the 
number of members was confined lo forty, 
half of whom were to be of the gentler sex. 
It has proven a brilliant success, and has a 
full membershi]!, each of whom takes an 
individual interest in its woi'kings. The 
present officers are the following — S. W. 
Leavitt, manager; J. II. Bacon, assistant; 
James \\. Mori-is, treasurer; E. B. Weeks, 
secretary. 

The Scandinavian Temperance Society 
was organized in the autumn of 1886, as an 
open society, by the citizens of that nation- 
ality or descent, with a meinbershi)i of alioiit 
twenty. It has accomplished much gond in 
liel])ing on the cause in this locality, and has 
increased rapitlly in size, having now some 
275 members. Meetings are hekl semi- 
monthly at the Swedisli Methotlist Episcopal 
Church, and great interest is manifested in 
them. The first otiicers wei'e — E. B. Nelson, 
pi'esident ; Halvor Burgliii, vice-pi'esidcnt ; 
O. Ringdahl, secretary ; and Charles Hanson, 
treasurer. Elections are held every four 
months, and the present ollicers are the fol- 
lowiuy named oentlemen : Ber"!! Anderson, 
president; J. G. Johnson, vice-president; 
Edward Benson, secretary; and S. Peterson, 
treasurer. 

KKI.IOIOI.'S. 

The First Presbyterian Church Societj' 
of Litchfield, was organized temporarily on 
the 2d of day January, 1870, under the ilirec- 
tion of a committee from the St. Paul Pi'es- 
bytery, alth<jugh services had been irregular- 
ly held four or live months ])i'evious in a 



newly erected school-house, Eev. D. B. Jack- 
son officiating. On the 10th of Maich follow- 
ing a ]iermanent oi'ganization was effected, 
when Henry Hill, A. N. Grenier and II. A. 
Bunions were chosen as trustees. The fol- 
lowing named persons comprise the original 
membership of the church : A. N. Grenier, 
Mrs. Eusebia Grenier, Miss Bachel A. 
Grenier, Miss Isabella Grenier, Henry Hill, 
Mrs. Mary L. Hill, HenryWilson and Mrs. 
Martha Gordon, and D. B. Jackson, pastor. 
Rev. Jackson was a most conscientious Chris- 
tian worker, and, by infusing his followers 
with his own earnestness and zeal, his labors 
resulted in laying the foundation for some of 
the most effective religious work in the his- 
tory of the county. During the summer of 
1870, c|uite a handsome fund was raised by 
the society through donations, general sub- 
scriptions and otherwise, and two lots were 
deeded it by the railroad company, on which 
the erection of a church etlilice was innuedi- 
ately begun. Tlie building was finished and 
occupied the following year (1871), the total 
cost being al)out :j;+,()Ou. A parsonage has 
since been erected at a cost of $1,400. Rev. 
Jackso7i was succeeded in turn as pastor, by 
the following ministei's — lievs. W. C. Hai'd- 
ing, Prescot Fay, A. J. Buel and John S. 
Sherrill. In April, 1887, the present pastor. 
Rev. I). E. Evans, was called to the charge, 
and the church has made excellent jjrogress 
under his administration, more than thirty 
new memljers haviu"- been received durino- 
his first year. The society now has a mem- 
bership of ninety-tour, and everything jkm'- 
taining to the church and its work is indeed 
promising for the future. 

Trinity Protestant Episcojial Church was 
the outgrowth of a mission of that denomin- 
ation established here previous to the laying- 
out of the village. Services were held in the 
place shortly after the reception of Litch- 
field, and at a meeting held at the Masonic 
Hall, March IS, 1871, the parish was organ- 



6o4 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



ized, and th(> real life of the clnirch began. 
The pioneer oflicei's were tlie following- 
named — Kev. T. (t. Crinn|i, I'ectoi'; J. C. 
Braden, senioi- wanlen ; Charles II. Stroljcck, 
junior warden ; II. (i. Itisiiig, I). E. Potter, 
J M. Mitchell. J. M. Waldren, O. B. Espin, 
W. S. Ih'ill and G. II. (Miajjnian, vestrymen ; 
I). E. Potter, cleik ; C II. Strobeck, treasurer. 
A Mrs. Ellen Anehenty ])laced the sum of 
^.j.ddo in the hands of Hisliop Whipple for 
the purpose of erecting a church and jjarish 
school, and the Ihshoj) selected this congre- 
"•ation as the bencliciarv. 'I'lie chui'ch edifice 
was erected during the year 1871, and dedi- 
cated February 1, ISTii. It is a very hand- 
some structure, built in the English Gothic 
style of architecture, and together with the 
rectory and school buildingis valued at over 
$7,000. Mr. C'rumi) continued to fill the 
position of rector until March 19, 1888, when 
he resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. 
Alfred G. Pinkhani. The present officers 
are — C. II. Strobeck and J. II. ]\Iorris, 
wardens; A. J. Revcll, T. II. AYood, C. A. 
Hraisie, A. R. j\Iontf(jrt, James Dickson and 
J. E. Upliam, vestrymen; Hamlet Stevens, 
treasurer; and M. (). Gathcart, clerk. Al- 
though the church had l)ut about ten or 
eleven members at its inception it now num- 
bers some 375 individuals in the congrega- 
tion, of whom one hundred are communi- 
cants. 

The Methodist Ej)iscopal Church of Litch- 
field was instituted in this neighborhood, as 
an auxiliary to the Forest City Church, in 
18G(i, a board of trustees being ap]iointed 
and a temporary organization being effected 
in July of that year. Rev. T. J. Woodworth 
was the first pastor to labor with the people, 
services being held ii'regularly in jn'ivate 
houses. In 18(>!1, on theii- removal to Litch- 
field, meetings were hehl in the old school- 
house, a permanent organization was effected, 
and the first (piarterly conference was in 
November of that vear. At that time the 



jiastor was Rev. J. S. Fasig, who was suc- 
ceeded, in September, 1871, by Rev. AVUIiam 
Copj). Under the administration of Rev. 
Copp the erection of the present church edi- 
fice was begun and completed, at a cost of 
$2,600. For a year jji-evious to its comple- 
tion services were held in the hall over a 
saloon on Sibley avenue. In 1872 Rev. 
Levi Gleason came to the charge, and in 
1873 he was succeeded by lie v. Isaac II. 
Riddick, whose circuit inclnde<l Litchfield. 
Gi'cenleaf, Spi'ing Grove and Cedar Mills. 
He continued as pastor until September 27, 
1870, when he was succeeded by Rev. Samuel 
Wood, who resigned tin' charge, on account 
of failing health, in July of the following 
year. Rev. C. W. Savidge completed the 
conference year, and was returned for the 
second \'ear. The succeeding pastors wei-e — 
Rev. Hoyt V>. Hunt, 1878-80; Rev. L. Hall, 
1881-2; Rev. N. M. Learned, 1882-3; Rev. 
J. C. Gullett, 1883-1; Rev. A. J. Brock, 
188-L-r.. In 1886 the present pastor, Rev. T. 
W. Butler, was called to the charge. The 
church membership is now 120, anil the soci- 
ety is in a wi^vy ])rospei"ous condition. L)ur- 
ing the year 1887 some .s300 worth of im- 
provements wei-e put njion the church, and 
a parsonage was erected at a cost of $1,400. 
S<j satisfactory has been the progress of the 
church, during the })ast few years, that the 
society now has in contemplation the erec- 
tion of a new church building, in order lo 
more nearly meet the necessities of the times. 
The Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church 
of Litchfield was organized early in the 
year 1S71-, the first meetings being held in 
the English Methodist Episcopal church, with 
Rev. C. J. Nelson, presiding elder, and Rev. 
Louis Dahlijrenofliciatin'r. Anions' the orini- 
nal members and workers were Air. ami ilrs. 
Peter Palm and Mr. and JNIrs. Peter Hansen 
and others. Later in the year a coinf(n'table 
church building was erected, at a cost of 
$1,400. For the first eleven j'ears the church 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



605 



belonged to the Atwater Circuit, the piilpil 
being filled by the pastor from that charge. 
A I'cgiilar pastor was provided in 1885, the 
first one being Rev. P. M. Alvin. In tlie fall 
of ISSO he was succeeded h3' Rev. Joiin Ander- 
son, the present jiastor. The church has 
made wonderful progress during the past 
year and a half (s|)ring of 1888), increasing- 
its membership fully five-fold. The present 
menibershii) is over sixty. Some $200 worth 
of improvements have been put upon the 
church building during the past year, and a 
parsonage has been erected at a cost of $050, 
besides purchasing an atlditional lot at a cost 
of $60. 

The Church of Christ, often called the 
Christian Church, was initiated at Litchfield 
by a disc(;urse delivered by L. Y. Bailey, in 
the old school-house, in the summer of 1870. 
He was the teacher of the school, and, dur- 
ing that year preached occasionally, being 
I'egularly ordained as a minister of that com- 
munion. In 1871 the church society was 
duly organized with L. Y. Bailey and wife, 
Mi's. J. V. Branham, Jr., C. J. Rowley, 
Chauncey Butler and wife, O. B. Knajip and 
wife, and several others as mendjers. They 
rented Asher's hall, where they held services 
for a time. Mr. Bailey had charge of the 
church as long as lie was a resident of 
Meeker county, which was for some three or 
four yeai's subse([uent to the organization of 
the society, having been connected with the 
educational interests of the county, either as 
teacher or as county superintendent, and 
gave his services to the church without re- 
muneration, as a matter of principle. In the 
early part of 1872, the present church edifice 
was erected, at a cost of about $3,000, and 
the membership largely increased. The suc- 
cessor of Mr. Bailey Avas Elder Grant, who 
remained with this people about a year; after 
which, for a period of several years, the in- 
terest somewdiat abating, there was no pas- 
tor until 1882. In April of that year. Elder 



E. W. Knapp came here, and, taking charge 
of the ministerial duties, occupied the pulpit 
until September following, when he was suc- 
ceetled by Elder R. C. Bryant, who attended 
the sjiiritual welfare of the church foi- about 
a year. After him came anotiier interval, 
when there was no pastoi'. In ]\[;ii'ch, 1S84, 
L. A. Pier was duly installed as pastor, and 
continues in that ])osilionat th(! present time. 
The parsonage connected with the church 
was erected in 1883, at a cost of about $1,000. 
The membershi}) of the society is now al)out 
eighty, with the following officers — V. H. 
Harris, Thonuis McGannon and Timothy 
Jayne, Jr., trustees; Thomas McGannon and 
Timothy Jayne, elders; A. T. Koerner, 
Henry McGannon and J. "W. Knight, dea- 
cons; V. II. Harris, clerk; and J. M. Russell, 
treasurer. 

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church 
Society was oi'ganized on the 28th of Au- 
gust, 1873, with the following members — 
N. M. Hentzia and w^ife, Nels Agren and 
wife, C. J. Zettergren and wife, J. P. Scarp 
and w'ife, N. Anderson and wife, A. II. Lof- 
strom and wife, A Palmquist and wife, B. 
P. Nelson and Alfred Zettergren. The first 
officers chosen were — Rev. J. G. Lagerstroin, 
chairman ; Rev. Fred. Peterson, secretary ; 
C. J. Zettergren, A. Ilentzer, and Nels 
Agren, deacons; and B. P. Nelson, A. H. 
Lofstram, and J. P. Scarp, trustees. The 
first regular pastor was Rev. P. Dittner, who 
was settled heie in fSTfi, and was succeeded 
in 1881 by Rev J. S. Ryding. November 
1, 1883, the present ministei'. Rev. L. A. 
Hocanzan, succeeded the latter gentleman. 
The church edifice was erected at a cost of 
some $t),000, in 1884, and is a brick veneered 
building, 38x62 feet in size, 21 feet high. 
The sacristy is 18x24 feet in dimensions, and 
the tower and spir(>, which is 14 feet scpiaie, 
rises to a height of 87 feet. It is well fur- 
nished inside, is heated by first-class furna- 
ces, and is handsomely liuished in fresco. 



6o6 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



The present officers are tlie rolluwiny 
named — llev. L. A. IIocanzMii, pastor; A. 
Palniqiiist. organist; Aaron landliolni, secre- 
tary ; Carl Hanson, treasurer; A. Palniquist, 
John Sncll, and Swen Nelson, deacons; and 
Andrew Nelson, Carl Hanson, and Nels An- 
derson, trustees. The clmrcli has a total 
niendicrsliip of I'lo, of whom 117 are com- 
municants. The Sunday-school, which meets 
every Sabbath, is under the superintendency 
of J. A. Elvblad. A parish school is hehl 
during some eight weeks in the year in con 
nection with the church, and a ladies society 
meets once a month. 

The Roman Catholic Church at Litchfield 
was organized as a part of the parish of 
Forest City, in 1871, by Rev. Father Arthur 
Hurley, who remained pastor of it until 
1873, when he was succeeded by Rev. Fatliei' 
Caiiill, under wiiose direction a pai-sonage 
was j)urciiased, and one room therein was 
fitted u]) as a chapel, in wliich mass was 
celebrated. In 1875 Rev. Fatiiei' John Mc- 
Dermolt became the spiritual director of the 
church, and organized, during his ministry, 
the first total abstinence society in Meeker 
county, and lots were xwi'chased, and the 
foundation of the cliurch laid in 1881. Rev. 
Father I'atrick Kinney, the next priest, came 
in the spring of 1882, and the churcli edifice 
was built under his direction, at a cost 
of $4.()(H). Rev. Father 11. McDevitt took 
charge of tlie parish in iss.'i, and remained 
about a year, when lie was succeeded by 
Rev. Father P. J. Roland, the present pastor. 
In tile summer of 1887 tlie present hand- 
some parsonage was erected at a cost of 
!B2,0()0. 

EDLX'ATIONAf. M.VTTERS. 

These are matters upon wliieii the cili/.i-ns 
of Litchfield take a just pride. At tJiis writing 
iheir schools are well graded, and have; been 
in tlie past, and are to-day, among the best 
managed schools in the State. There is not 



a city of tlie same size in Minnesota where 
; the |>ublic schools ai-e rated higher, or edu- 
cational facilities and privileges more excel- 
lent than in Litchfield, and the citizens justly 
feel proud of their institutions. 

The first olficial school meetiiiji' on the 
present site of Litciilield was iield on the 'itltli 
of March, 187n, when tiie following officers 
were elected: J V. I'ranliain, Jr., director ; 
C. H. Strobeck, clerk, and Bengt Hanson, 
treasurer. This i)erfecteil tlie organization 
of the district. The lirstschool on the town 
site was held in a small frame building which 
stood on block 41, and was valued at S250. 
It is presumed that the district had bought 
this building, but the I'ecords do not show 
anything of the purchase, altiiough it appears 
upon the reports as school property. The 
total enrollment of scholars during that year 
(1870) was forty-six, and there was only one 
teacher employed — Flora !Mitc!iell. She was 
paid ii;25 per month. The term lasted three 
months, and the total expenditure for school 
purposes during the year 1870 amounted to 
only $U8.78. 

On the 8th of February, 1871. a special 
school meeting was held, at which it was de- 
cided to buikl a new school-house, to cost not 
more than !f;3,00(>, and to be located on the 
northeast quarter of block 51. The contract 
was let June 19, 1871, calling for the com- 
pletion of a two-story, four-room building. 
The building was occiipietl in the winter of 
1871-'72, there being an enroUment during 
tiie term of ninety two. The total iimount 
paid teachers during 1871 was^3(i5, the totiil 
amount expended for school purpcjses being 
!?3,:}t);t.54. 

The sciiool gr;idii;illy advnnceil mid grew 
in numbers until it became necessary to erect 
a larger schonl-building. A hot contest, last- 
ing from March 15 until April 26, 1879, took 
])lace over this question, which is referred 
t(j as the " North and South side war." Each 
side wanted the building erected in their 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



607 



own part of the town, the railroad track being 
the dividing line. The question was finall}' 
decided, and a splendid school structure was 
erected on the north side of the track, being 
located on block 124. The building is of 
brick, and contained eight rooms, although 
only four were furnished at the time. The 
total cost of the building was $10,000, while 
the site and furniture cost §2,000 luore. 

In August, 1880, Litchfield was organized 
as an independent district, with the follow- 
ing school board — S. W. Leavitt, president ; 
Bengt Hanson, treasurer; J. H. Morris, 
clerk ; M. J. Flynn, W. H. Greenleaf and 
Henry McGannon, trustees. The schools 
were graded during this year. 

In April, 1886, an additional building was 
erected at a cost to the city of $3,500 includ- 
ing the grounds. This building is located 
on the south side of the railroad. In the 
fall of 1887 it was found that the necessities 
of the schools required still another building, 
and one was rented and furnished, which is 
now used as first primary. This makes 
three buildings in all, with a total of eleven 
rooms. Eleven teachers are emplo\'ed, Y. 
W. Brokaw being the present principal. 
The present enrollment of the schools is 550 
scholars. The total amount paid as teachers' 
salaries during the year 1887 was $6,815. 

The jiresent school board of Litchfield is 
composed as follows — S. W. Leavitt, presi- 
dent ; J. W. "Wright, secretary ; W. H. 
Greenleaf, treasurer; J. H. Morris, M. J. 
Flynn, and V. H. Harris, directors. 

FIRE DEPAKTMEXT. 

The first movement toward the fo)'mation 
of a fire department at Litchfield, was a vol- 
unteer company which was brought into 
existence in 1873. Among those who were 
active workers in this organization were the 
following named — A. E. Potter, A. E. 
Howe, J. D. Hayford, John Mosette, H. J. 
Lasher, E. F. Koberts, John Ilayford, J. P. 



Scarp, James McCabe, John Peterson, A. T. 
Koerner, W . II. Myers, F. P. Zimmerman, 
John Anderson, Henry McGannon, M. W. 
Damuth, P. Eckstrom, II. J. Brinkman, P. 
Berens, AV. D. Joubert, S. Y. Gordon, S. P. 
Chipman, S. AV. Frasier, Chauncey Butler, 
Jacob Koerner and others. This organiza- 
tion was maintained until the present com- 
pany was incorporated in 1877. 

On the 20th of January, 1877, articles of 
incorporation were drawn organizing and 
incorporating the Litchfield Fire Companyt 
The first officers were as follows — P. Eck- 
strom, foreman ; H. J. Lasher, first assistant; 
J. M. Howard, second assistant ; A. T. 
Koerner, secretary and treasurer; and AV.H. 
Myers, steward. Besides the officers the fol- 
lowing named were all charter memljers of 
the association — J. N. Bacon, Henry McGan- 
non, M. AV. Damuth, M. Thurin, Chauncey 
Butler, A^. M. Campbell, M. J. Flynn, John 
Peterson, Henry Eckstrom, F. P. Campbell, 
S. Y. Gordon, F. P. Zimmerman, Alexander 
Cairncross, John Anderson, S. AV. Leavitt, A. 
D. Koss, N. J. March, John Hayford, J. B. 
Hatch, J. P. Scarp, E. F. Koberts, P. Berens 
and James McCabe. 

At the time of organization the depart- 
ment was equipped with one Babcock ex- 
tinguisher, together with the usual hooks, 
ladders, etc. In November, 1883, the city 
seeing the necessity of better protection 
against the fiery element, furnished the de- 
partment with a Cataract hand engine, two 
hose carts and a thousand feet of hose, at a 
cost of $2,350. The building then in use as 
an engine house was the old frame school- 
house located on block 51. This was used 
as an engine house until 1886, when the 
present brick engine house was erected on 
the corner of Second and Ramsey streets. 
It is a substantial, two-story building, con- 
venientl}' dividetl,and containing a fireman's 
hall and council room. The building cost 
the city $1,865 in money, besides which, 



6o8 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



the old frame building and lots Avere traded 
in. 

A few additional items in regard to the 
history of the dejjartnient may be of interest. 
On thelTth of Feln-iiary. 1877, a committee 
was appointed to solicit subscriptions for the 
purchase of a bell. The bell was secured 
during the following summer at a cost of 
$80. The first time the present department 
turned out for drilling purposes was in June, 
1878. The first delegates to the State Fire 
Department, were P. Eckstrom and A. T. 
Koerner. On the Oth of March, 1882, the 
village council appropriated $50 for the pur- 
pose, and tlie dt'iiartniont secui'ed fifty hel- 
mets and belts. 

In addition to the organization given 
above, the village also lioasts of a " bucket 
brierade," which was organized on the !>tli of 
Mav, 1882. It then had twenty-five mem- 
bers. The organization has been sustained 
up to the present time, and the "brigade" 
now has thirt\- members, and is in good 
working order. The i)resent officers are — N. 
F. Reveli, captain ; N. Thoralson, secretary; 
and S. A. Scarp, assistant. "Water is drawn 
from four cisterns which hold about 450 
barrels, and the supjily is practically inex- 
haustible. They have three force pumps. 



About 1878 an imlepeiulent company was 
organized here, which was known as the 
" Litchfield Rifles." It was comjiosed of 
about forty members, and was commanded 
by the following officers — S. W. Leavitt, cap- 
tain; J. II. Morris, first lieutenant; and A. 
T. Koerner, second lieutenant. This oi-gani- 
zation was maintained for about two years, 
when their guns were called for, as they 
were needed in the West for actual service. 
As the guns were not I'elurned, the organi- 
zation was finally abandoned. 

On the 20th of Fel)ruary. 1883,Company II, 
First Ilegiment Minnesota National (Tuards, 



was organized at Litchfield with sixty-two 
members. The following were tiie first and 
are the present officers of the company — S. 
W. Leavitt, captain ; J. H. Morris, first lieu- 
tenant ; and A. T. Koerner, second lieuten- 
ant. The organization is still maintained, 
and the company now has sixty-four men, 
including both rank and file, and is under an 
excellent degree of disci]iline. 

BANDS. 

The first brass band in the county was or- 
ganized in Litchfield in 1871, with fourteen 
members — H. J. Lasher, J. H. Bacon, S. "W. 
Leavitt, H. S. Branham, D. E. Branham, Y. 
II. Harris, II. Mc(4annon, August Lund- 
crantz, N. A. Yiren, John Black well, George 
Waller, Henry Chase, IMartin Thurien and 
B. F. Pixley. It was not only the pioneer 
organization in musical matters, but also in 
dramatic and other entertainments. The 
first dramatic and literary society was insti- 
tuted by its members, which is still in ex- 
istence and fioui'ishing under the name of 
the Litchfield Dramatic Association. The 
Litchfield Band maintained its organization 
for about three \'ears, and proved the jirinci- 
pal stepping-stone for amusement enterprises 
of almost every kind in the village. 

The Litchfield cornet band was organized 
Xoveml)er 5, 1885, and was officered for the 
first year as follows — F. M. Phillijis, presi- 
dent ; I). Elmquist, vice-president ; A. Leid- 
holm, secretary ; F. P. Zimmerman, treas- 
urer. On the 5th of Noveml)er, 1.SS7, the 
band was incorporated under the laws of the 
State. It is now in a flourishing conditii^n, 
owns a set of fine instruments, wiiich were 
paid for entirely out of its own funds, and 
enjoys the reimtation of being one of the 
best bands in this i)ortion of the State. The 
present officers and members are as follows — 
I. N. Nelson, jjresident; August Ericson, 
vice-president ; M. O. Oathcart, secretary ; 
A. Palmquist. treasurer ; O. A. Olson, leader 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



609 



and teacher ; D. Elraquist, E. Anderson, A. 
O. Snell, B. E. Harris, Fritz Koerner, Andrew 
Palmquist. 

PAEKS. 

Probably no village of its size in the 
Northwest can boast of a more beautiful 
park than Litchfield. It is called Central 
Park, and occupies one block, bounded by 
Sibley and Marshall avenues, and Third and 
Fourth streets. The land was donated the 
village bv the Manitoba Eailroad Company, 
who caused trees to be set out in it, in 1870. 
These trees died, and the following year the 
citizens, under the direction of Jesse Y. 
Branham, Jr., took it in hand, broke and pre- 
pared the ground, and the next year ti-ees 
and shrubbery were planted in it through pri- 
vate donations. Since that time it has been 
cared for and improved by tlie village coun- 
cil, until it has become one of the most l)eau- 
tiful ]iarks in the State, and the pride which 
the citizens manifest in its preservation and 
imjM'ovement is indeed a ]iardonable one. 
The general ])icturesqueness of tlie park is 
greatly added to by a handsome pagoda, 
which occupies a circle in the center of the 
park, where suuimer-night concerts are given 
regularly by the Litchfield cornet band. 

There are two other parks belonging to 
the village, one in the northwest portion and 
one in the southern part of town, both of 
which are being improved and ornamented 
with trees and shrubbery, and which will 
eventually become a ci"edit to the village. 

Not the least among the many commend- 
able enterprises of Litchfield is the Litchfield 
Driving Park, which is located on a beauti- 
ful tract of land on the north shore of Lake 
Piplev. which was formerly the ])roperty of 
the Meeker Count3' Agricultural and Me- 
chanical Association. It is the design of the 
corporation to convert it into a fir.st-class 
driving park, with a perfectly level half-mile 
track, amphitheater, stables, etc. The ground 



is more admirably adapted for the purpose 
than any in this locality, and the backing 
which the enteri)rise has insures its success 
beyond pei-adventure. 

INCOEPOEATION. 

The village of Litchfield was chartered by 
act of the Legislature, February 29, 1872. 
On the first Monday in April of that year, 
an election was held in accordance with the 
provisions of the charter, when the follow- 
ing officers were chosen — Jesse V. Branham, 
Jr., president; J. Q. A. Braden, recorder; 
Charles B. Howell, attorney; Y. H, Harris, 
justice; John Esbjornsson, treasurer; S. Y. 
Gordon, constable; George ]'. Waller, J. C. 
Brailen, Nels Swanson, trustees. The elec- 
tion was held under the supervision of Jesse 
Y. Branliam, Jr., Miciiael J. Flynn and Nels 
Swanson. The first meeting of the council 
was held on the .5th of April, in the LTnited 
States land ofiicc, whieii was then located in 
the building occupied by W. II. Dart, the 
grocer. 

Tlie second year in the history of the 
incorporated village the original officers were 
I'eelected, with the exception of members of 
the council, as follows — G. W. Weisel, presi- 
dent; M. A. Brown, C. O. Porter, Andrew 
Nelson . 

No record of election in lS7i. 

In 1875 the annual election resulted in the 
choice of the following officers — S. W. 
Leavitt, president ; Cliauncey Butler, F. Y. 
DeCoster, J. B. Hatch, trustees ; Y. H. Har- 
ris, recorder; John Esbjornsson, treasurer; 
S. A. Plumley, attorney ; S. Y. Gordon, 
constable. 

For the centennial year the village chose 
for its officers the following — J. M. Wakh-en, 
president; Chauncey Butler. P. Eckstrom, 
Frank Daggett, trustees; A. T. Koerner, 
I'ecorder; J. Esbjornsson, treasurer; S. A. 
Plumley, attorney ; H. IMcGannon, constable. 

1877. Chauncey Butler, ])i-esident ; H. 



6io 



MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA. 



Ames, N. A. Viren, A. Cairncross, trustees; 
A. T. Koerner, recorder; S Y. Gordon, con- 
stable. 

ISTS. A. C. Smith, president; 11. Ames, 
S.A.Heard, TST. Anderson, trustees; A. T. 
Koerner, recorder ; Jacob Koei'iier, treasurer ; 
F. II. liawley, attorney; II. Angler, constable. 

1S79. S. A. Heard, president ; M. J. Flynn, 
A. D. Ross, II. B. Johnson, trustees ; A. Palm, 
recorder; M. A. Brown, treasurer; A. C. 
Smith, attorney; J. W. Ilooser, constable. 

1880. H. B. Johnson, president ; A. Cairn- 
cross, F. E. Bisseli, J. Koernei-, trustees ; W. 
W. Johnson, recorder ; H. B. Gates, treas- 
urer ; A. C. Smith, attorney ; II. McGannon, 
constable. 

- 1881. M. A. Brown, president; V. II. 
Harris, S. A. Pluraley, J. P. Scarp, trustees; 
A. T. Koerner, recorder; H. S. Branham, 
treasurer; S. A. Plumley, attorney; II. 
McGannon, constable. 

1882. Cliarles II. Strobeck, president ; N. 
Thoralson, I). Flynn, J. E. Peterson, trus- 
tees ; A. T. Koerner, recorder ; H. B. Gates, 
treasurer; E. P. Peterson, attorney; II. 
McGannon, constable. 

1883. V. FT. Harris, president ; D. Flynn, 
John Rodange, J. Esbjornsson, trustees; A. 
T. Koerner, recorder ; Geo. H. Simons, attor- 
ney ; \1. McGannon, constable. 



188-4. V. H. Harris, president; M. J. 
Flynn, J. Esbjornsson, S. W. Leavitt, trust- 
ees; A. T. Koerner, recorder; J. M. Russell, 
attorney; H. M. Angler, constable. 

1885. J. M. Howard, president; M. J. 
Flynn, ]\r. A. Brown, S.W. Rankin, trustees; 
A. T. Koerner, recorder; Wm. Kenney, at-" 
torney ; II. M. Angier, constable. 

1886. F. E. Bisseli, president ; C. L. An- 
gell, S. W. Rankin, N. C. Martin, trustees; 
C. H. Bigeiow, recorder ; A. J. Revell, treas- 
urer; J. M. Russell, attorney, H. M. Angier, 
constable. 

In 1887 the village charter was amended, 
empowering the extension of boundaries, 
dividing the village into wards, and giving 
it the powers generally possessed by munici- 
pal corporations at common law. The fol- 
lowing officers were elected untler the new 
regime — j\1. J. Flynn, mayor; J. L. Wake- 
field, recorder; W. H. Dart, treasurer; E. 
P. Peterson, attorney ; II. M. Angier, mar- 
shal; A. T. Koerner, justice of the jieace. 
Council: J. M. Howard, president; N. J. 
March, C. A. Greenleaf, first ward ; J. Esb- 
jornsson, A. D. Ross, second ward; J. M. 
Howard, N. W. Hawkinson, third ward. 
These were the officers at the time this man- 
uscript went to press (February, 1888). 



